RETHINKING COLLECTIVE SECURITY

The author argues that the present resurgence of interest in collectiv e security is partly triggered by the need to find a phrase that catch es the trend towards increased reliance on broadly based international organisations like the UN and the CSCE in security affairs, partly by overoptimism concerning the role these will be able to play. On the o ther hand, the expanded role of collective organisations in authorizat ion and organisation of peacekeeping and enforcement missions, makes i t neccessary for countries like Norway to rethink their role in this a ctivity. Future participation will inflict costs and pose risks that p reviously never were associated with UN military operations. This is a development Norway and its defence are inadequately prepared to meet. But the challenge has to be met also by smaller countries, or the UN system runs the risk of losing its legitimacy and capacity to become a n important instrument for collective conflict management.