Collective Security

Collective Security

The intended means by which the League was to maintain peace

Three Stages of Collective Security

Moral disapproval, Economic sanctions, Military sanctions

Moral Disapproval

• Council could meet and vote to condemn action

• Aggressive power knowing the weight of world was against them may drop action

Economic Sanctions

• Could be imposed if moral disapproval failed

• Trade boycotts and refusing credit

Military Sanctions

• Used if economic sanctions failed

• May involve sending an army to support the victim of aggression

Problems of Collective Security

Unanimous decisions, Lack of Army

Problems of Unanimous decisions

• All decisions had to be unanimous

• One negative vote could mean that no action was taken

Problems with Lack of Army

• No standing force to impose decisions

• Members would be asked to provide a military force

• Took much time, no guarantee

• Military sanctions could never really be contemplated.