The discourse on multilateral (security) cooperation and the establishment of a cooperative mechanism began in Europe in the 1960s. Established on July 3, 1973, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have been the exemplary model of multilateral cooperation that operates actively and hugely contributes to maintaining European security stably. The monograph defines multilateral cooperation as the following: the three or more countries, gathering to discuss pending issues in various areas such as politics, foreign affairs, security, economy, society, culture, etc., make efforts to preemptively remove factors of conflict and seek conflict prevention and peaceful resolution to existing conflicts. That is, it emphasizes cooperation in different areas to complement the existing alliance or collective security. Accordingly, multilateral cooperation concentrates on preventative diplomatic rather than the response after a conflict erupted and endeavors to foster an environment that deters acts of invasion or instigation of instability. It stems from two different concepts. The first is the concept of ‘common security’, which emerged at the onset of the nuclear arms race in the Cold War era. This was to seek common security through the cooperation between Western and Eastern bloc countries given the new perception that the stability based on the concept of absolute security that focuses solely on one’s own security cannot be sustained. As a result, the European countries were able to reach a consensus to approach security through cooperation and harmony rather than confrontation and competition and this contributed to the inception of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, now OSCE). Another concept that forms the pillar of multilateral cooperation is cooperative security, a notion to reduce threats gradually through cooperation with others. Cooperative security, favoring non-institutional and gradual approach considering the diversity in the international community and recognizing the existing alliance while valuing talks between non-governmental organizations, contributed to the promotion of preventative diplomacy — preventing inter-state conflict — and multilateral security dialogue. The multilateral (security) cooperation organizations in the post-Cold War era were created, adopting this concept.

Meanwhile in Asia, ….

Volume 2019-1

Publication Date: February 28, 2019

222 pages, paperback