| 1. UN members have been able to agree to collective security measures only twice in the institution’s history, on Korea in 1950 and on Kuwait in 1991. Why is collective security such a difficult concept to enforce?
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| 2. Most analysts point to the economizing benefits of security alliances. What are the costs and risks of an alliance? Can alliances be used to gain influence over the aligned state, not as collective security?
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| 3. On the eve of World War I, states did honor their alliance commitments and the (Western) world went to war. Yet theoretically, alliances are a tool to balance power and prevent war. Explain.
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| 4. Historically, the United Nations supported a small number of peacekeeping operations. However, after 1990, the United Nations not only engaged in more aggressive peace enforcement but also dramatically expanded the number, scope, and length of such operations. What explains the shift?
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| 5. List and assess possible reasons for the lack of a UN consensus prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Consider systemic causes of war, domestic influences on war, and the role of international institutions.
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