Defence Forces Review 2008

Defence Forces Review 2008
and evolution which followed, the initial enthusiasm for the Charter largely evaporated.
Even the possibility of an orderly international future began to be questioned. The Cold War
paralyzed the United Nations, which was founded on the assumption that the great powers
would be unanimous in dealing with matters of international peace and security. Regional
conflicts defied the authority of the world organization. The arms race proceeded at full speed
at all levels.
In spite of these discouraging developments, the basic will to peace of the world community
survived. A third world war - which at times seemed imminent - was avoided. The UN played
an important role in preventing regional conflicts from escalating into an armed confrontation
between East and West. Improvisations, including new techniques of peacemaking and
peacekeeping and a large expansion of the role of the Secretary-General, to some extent
filled the gap caused by the absence of great power unanimity. In this process, a practical
reassessment of the realities of international peace and security has gradually emerged. Sixteen
peacekeeping operations and countless good offices missions by successive Secretaries-
General have been the backbone of this effort.
In the last eighteen months a new and mild international climate has relaxed the rigors of the
Cold War and calmed the storm of regional conflict. The prospect of realizing the dreams of
1945 seems better than at anytime in forty years. At last we have an opportunity to assess our
situation, to consider the revolutionary changes that have taken place to cooperate in making
plans for a better future. This opportunity has not come a moment too soon. Modern warfare
has become a lethal and unacceptable anachronism. Even the most powerful states are finding
that preparations for modern warfare are prohibitively expensive. An improvement in the way
the existing system of international stability and security operates is urgently needed, and may
now at last be within the bounds of political reality.
But, there is another compelling challenge to the community of nations - a challenge which
will not respect nor wait upon the disputes and disagreements of nations. We are now
encountering a new generation of global problems which can only be faced effectively through
an unprecedented degree of international cooperation. Our capacity to face these problems
will determine the nature and conditions of life on this planet in the next century. Clearly
this task requires outstanding leadership and an extraordinary concentration of resources and
political energy. We shall have to study our existing international mechanisms and decide in
what way they need to be strengthened and coordinated.
In dealing with both sets of issues-peace and stability, and global problems - the key question
will be the extent to which collective responsibility and international authority can be exercised
and respected. We now have a world of more than 160 independent sovereign states. This is
a new situation which clearly demands an acceptable, but effective, degree of international
authority in matters of common concern. The nature and evolution of this authority will be the
key to building a better world and dealing with the global threats we now face.
Forty-three years ago the international organization was primarily preoccupied with
international peace and security. The evolution of thinking and practice on this essential
question may give some clues as to the basis upon which international authority may rest in
the future.
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