How did collective security develop, in particular between WWI and WWII?

The first 200 words of this essay...

How did collective security develop, in particular between WWI and WWII?

By Diederik ten Brink, IS11

The United Nations is a major organization build on the principle of collective security. In this essay it will be discussed how collective security developed, in particular between WWI and WWII. To understand collective security, one must first understand tradition alliances.

Traditional alliances were alliances between nations with similar interests, mostly as protection against other nations. These alliances contained terms, terms about what nations needed to do and what their obligations to the other nations involved in the alliance were. Nations acted in their own national interest, meaning that they allied with nations to benefit themselves solely.

Collective security is a system in which states try to prevent wars by collective decisions. ("collective security") Collective security is not based on national interest, it is based on the aim to try to prevent a conflict, and thus maintaining peace. The main principle of collective security is that nations in collective security system have to act in behalf of the system and peace instead of their national interest. However, for collective security, nations need to give up some sovereignty,