A New European Peace Order as a System of Collective Security

In: Journal of peace research, Band 21, Heft 2, S. 169-180

Abstract

Peace by military deterrence based on pact systems should merely be understood as a 'gain in time' or as a 'respite' which must urgently be utilized in the search for political solutions and alternatives. The following thoughts may be seen as part of this inquiry. Their focus lies within the logical and consistent continuation of the basic idea of common security into the idea of a system of collective security as envisioned in the UN Charter and in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. The article discusses phases, individual steps and graded measures towards a realization of a regional 'European System of Collective Security', among others: defensive superiority, renunciation of destabilization, confidence-building measures, public support, unilateral disarmament, nuclear-weapon-free zones, relaxation of bloc-integration, neutralism, and finally institutionalization measures. A regional 'European system of Collective Security' is not only conceivable but also feasible in the sense of being 'realistic' because a number of the steps and measures necessary towards such a system can be put into effect immediately without dissolving the current pacts.