Week 6

Question 1

What is collective security in IR?

Answer 1

A system where states agree to respond collectively to aggression against any member
Principle: attack on one = attack on all. Goal: deter war by unified opposition.

Question 2

What are the key features of collective security?

Answer 2

• Universality (applies to all states)
• Collective response (an attack against one is an attack against all)
• Impartiality (objective judgment of aggression)
• Discouraging attacks in advance (threat of united opposition discourages attacks)

Question 3

Q3: What is the legal basis of collective security in the UN Charter?

Answer 3

• Art. 1(1): Collective measures for peace/security
• Art. 39: UNSC determines threats/aggression (breach of peace)
• Art. 41: Non‑military sanctions
• Art. 42: Military action authorized by council if sanctions fail
• Art. 51: Inherent right of self‑defense until UNSC acts

Question 4

Examples of roles organizations play in collective security?

Answer 4

Under Art. 52 UN Charter, regional bodies may act but must report to UNSC. Examples:

• NATO (1949): Article 5 → attack on one = attack on all
• African Union (2000): Article 4(h) → right to intervene in genocide/war crimes

Question 5

What triggered the Gulf War I (1990–1991)?

Answer 5

Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug 2, 1990, citing economic debt, territorial claims, and Saddam’s regional ambitions.

Question 6

What were Iraq’s main reasons for invading Kuwait?

Answer 6

• Economic: Debts after Iran‑Iraq War; anger at Kuwait’s oil overproduction lowering global prices reducingIraq’s revenue.
• Territorial: Claimed Kuwait historically part of Iraq; accused of slant‑drilling oil
• Regional ambition: Saddam Hussein wanted Arab leadership + Kuwait’s oil wealth (accused Kuwait of deliberately hurting Iraq’s economy)

too much supply = lower price per barrel.

Question 7

What is slant oil drilling?

Answer 7

A technique where wells are drilled at an angle to reach oil reserves under another country’s territory. Iraq accused Kuwait of slant‑drilling into Iraqi oil fields in 1990.

Question 8

What legal frameworks did UNSC use to respond to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait?

Answer 8

• Resolution 660: Condemned invasion, demanded withdrawal
• Resolution 661: Comprehensive non-military (Article 41 of the UN) Charter sanctions
• Resolution 678: Authorized “all necessary means” if Iraq didn’t withdraw by Jan 15, 1991

Question 9

What are sanctions in IR?

Answer 9

Sanctions are non‑military measures used to pressure states, groups, or individuals into changing behavior. Types: economic (trade bans, asset freezes), diplomatic (cutting ties), military (arms embargoes). Example: UN sanctions on Iraq in 1990.

After Iraq invaded Kuwait, the UN restricted oil exports and imports of goods until Iraq complied with UN resolutions.

Question 10

What was the coalition in Gulf War I?

Answer 10

The coalition in Gulf War I (1990–1991) was a massive international alliance of 39 countries, led by the United States, formed to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Saddam Hussein’s invasion. Broad participation gave legitimacy.

Question 11

What was Operation Desert Storm?

Answer 11

Operation Desert Storm was the combat phase of the Gulf War (January–February 1991), when a U.S.-led coalition launched massive air and ground offensives to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Question 12

What is collective defence in IR and an example?

Answer 12

An alliance‑based system where member states commit to defend each other against external attack.

Example: NATO Article 5 Afghan invasion

Question 13

What is NATO’s Article 5?

Answer 13

Clause stating an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Invoked Sept 12, 2001 for the first and only time.

Question 14

How does collective defence differ from collective security?
Include examples.

Answer 14

• Collective Security: UN‑led, applies universally against any aggressor (e.g., Gulf War I).
• Collective Defence: Alliance‑based, applies only to members (e.g., NATO in Afghanistan).

Question 15

What triggered NATO’s Article 5 invocation in 2001?

Answer 15

The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. (Sept 11, 2001), killing ~3,000 people. Taliban sheltered al‑Qaeda and refused to surrender leaders

Question 16

Why was NATO’s Article 5 invocation significant?

Answer 16

• Treated terrorism as equivalent to state attack
• Committed all NATO allies to defend the U.S.
• Extended collective defence to non‑state actors (terrorist groups, cyber attacks)
• Showed alliance solidarity post‑Cold War

Question 17

What were the objectives of the Afghan invasion (2001)?

Answer 17

• Dismantle al‑Qaeda infrastructure
• Remove Taliban regime ***
• Capture/kill al‑Qaeda leaders (incl. Osama bin Laden)
• Prevent Afghanistan being used as terrorist base

Question 18

What is Human Security in IR?

Answer 18

is an approach that shifts the focus of security from the state to people.
Core idea

Human security is about protecting individuals from critical threats that affect everyday life — not just war or military attacks.

Key definition (UN, 1994)

Human security means:
• Freedom from fear (violence, war, repression)
• Freedom from want (poverty, hunger, disease)
• Freedom to live in dignity

Question 19

What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)?

Answer 19

A UN doctrine stating states have a responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. With the assistance of the international community. If they fail, the international community must collectively act through UNSC.

Question 20

How was R2P applied in Libya (2011)?

Answer 20

UNSC authorized NATO intervention explicitly to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s regime. First time military force was authorized under R2P.

Question 21

Why is the Libya intervention significant?

Answer 21

• First UNSC authorization for civilian protection under R2P
• Applied human security lens (protecting people, not just states)
• Controversial aftermath: Libya collapsed into instability after Gaddafi’s fall

Question 22

What does UNSC “all means necessary” entail?

Answer 22

States are permitted to use any measures required — including military force — to achieve the resolution’s objective.

Question 23

Explain UN sanctions on Iraq

Answer 23

In 1990, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, the UN Security Council imposed comprehensive sanctions through Resolution 661. These sanctions banned all trade and financial transactions with Iraq, aiming to pressure Saddam Hussein to withdraw without immediate military force

Question 24

What is a coalition?

Answer 24

A coalition is a temporary alliance of states formed to achieve a specific objective. Unlike permanent alliances (like NATO), coalitions dissolve once the mission ends.

Question 25

What were the features of the Gulf War coalition?

Answer 25

• Ad hoc (temporary, dissolved after mission) • Large participation (39 nations) • Led by the U.S. • Mixed membership (Western + Arab states) • UN legitimacy (Resolution 678, “all necessary means”) • Collective security in practice • Regional support gave credibility • Shared objectives (liberate Kuwait, protect Saudi Arabia, maintain Gulf stability) • Short‑term existence(ended after Feb 1991) -> lasted 6 weeks • Symbol of global unity against aggression

Question 26

What is Operation Desert Storm?

Answer 26

Operation Desert Storm was the combat phase of the Gulf War (January–February 1991), when the U.S.-led coalition launched massive air and ground attacks to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. It followed Iraq’s refusal to withdraw after UN sanctions and resolutions, and it ended with Kuwait’s liberation in just 100 hours

Question 27

List the features and an example of Collective Defence.

Answer 27

• Definition: A military alliance where members agree to defend each other if one is attacked. • Scope: Protects only member states of the alliance. • Legal basis: Usually treaty‑based (e.g., NATO’s Article 5). • Trigger: Activated when a member is attacked → others come to its defence. • Example: NATO after 9/11 (2001) — Article 5 was invoked, and allies defended the U.S. against terrorism.

Question 28

Give features and an example of Collective Security.

Answer 28

• Definition: A global system where all states agree to act against aggression, no matter who is attacked. • Scope: Protects any state, not just members of an alliance. • Legal basis: UN Charter (Chapter VII) → Security Council can authorize sanctions or force. • Trigger: Activated when any state commits aggression → all others act collectively to stop it. • Example: Gulf War I (1990–1991) — UN authorized “all necessary means” to expel Iraq from Kuwait, and a coalition of 39 states acted.

Question 29

Give differentiation of Collective defence and Collective security.

Answer 29

Collective defence is an alliance commitment to defend members if attacked (e.g., NATO Article 5). Collective security is a universal system where states act together against aggression anywhere legally allowed by UNSC (e.g., UN action in Gulf War I). Defence protects members; security protects all

Question 30

What does “recognition mean in IR”

Answer 30

Recognition means that one state formally accepts another government as the legitimate authority of a country. It’s a diplomatic act: recognition allows for official relations, embassies, treaties, and trade.

Question 31

What is Taliban.

Answer 31

The Taliban is an Islamist militant and political movement that originated in Afghanistan in the 1990s. It is known for enforcing a strict interpretation of Islamic law

Question 32

What is The Taliban regime?

Answer 32

The Taliban regime refers to the periods when the Taliban, an Islamist militant group, controlled Afghanistan’s government — first from 1996 to 2001, and again from 2021 to the present.

Question 33

What is Foreign imposition ?

Answer 33

Foreign imposition in international relations means when outside powers force their will, policies, or systems onto another state or society, often without local consent. It’s essentially the opposite of legitimacy or self‑determination. • Regional support = legitimacy → local states agree and participate (e.g., Arab states in Gulf War I). • Foreign imposition = illegitimacy → outsiders act without local consent, seen as interference.

Question 34

What role do regional organizations play in collective security?

Answer 34

Regional organizations act as partners to the United Nations in collective security, helping prevent conflicts, mediate disputes, and sometimes take enforcement action under UN authorization.

Question 35

Benefits of Regional organization Involvement in collective security?

Answer 35

Proximity and cultural understanding → better tailored solutions. Burden-sharing → reduces strain on UN resources. Legitimacy → local actors may trust regional bodies more than distant global institutions.

Question 36

Benefits of Regional organization Involvement in collective security?

Question 37

Phases and dates for operation desert storm?

Answer 37

Dates: January 17 – February 28, 1991 • Air campaign (Jan 17 – Feb 23) • Ground offensive (Feb 24 – Feb 28): Lasted only 100 hours. Liberating Kuwait Ceasefire: Declared on February 28, 1991

Question 38

How is Collective security,collective defence and R2P a response to anarchy?

Answer 38

All three are responses to anarchy because they provide mechanisms to manage insecurity in a world without central authority. Collective security substitutes for a world government by uniting states against aggressors. Collective defence creates alliance solidarity to deter threats. Human security and R2P extend protection to individuals when states fail, filling the gap left by anarchy.

Question 39

What are the Main dimensions of Human Security?

Answer 39

Main dimensions of Human Security The UN identifies 7 dimensions: 1. Economic security – protection from poverty and unemployment 2. Food security – access to sufficient, safe food 3. Health security – protection from disease and poor healthcare 4. Environmental security – protection from pollution, climate change, disasters 5. Personal security – protection from violence (crime, war, domestic abuse) 6. Community security – protection of cultural identity and minority groups 7. Political security – protection of human rights and freedoms