Most briefly stated, the primary problem of international organization is the achievement of a stable peace among nation-states. This research examines the theoretical and practical advances toward this goal by the model of integration theory in international relations advanced by Karl Deutsch and Richard Van Wagenen.
The theoretical and empirical studies of Deutsch and Wagenen admittedly appear grand. However, the scholars curtail the focus of their work to peaceful relations among nation-states in one major region of the globe--the North Atlantic area. The lessons learned from the relations within the North Atlantic region can then be generalized for the future study of how to attain peace across the globe as a whole.
The critical issue of relations between as well as within nation-states is how to minimize the risk of war by substituting the rule of law among nations. This is the problem of international "security." Specifically, the problem is this: how do groups of people attain the status of security-communities free of the risk of war?
Before analyzing this issue, Deutsch and Wagenen offer several definitions of key terms that help guide their analysis. Many of the terms employed in international relations do not carry the same meaning as in common usage, making clarity in definitions essential.
"Security" is defined as the protection of the members of the group from the unauthorized use of physical force by other members of the group. A "security-community" is a group of people which has become integrated in secure relations. "Integration" is defined as the attainment of a sense of community, joined by formal and informal social institutions and interactions, adequately strong and widespread to ensure a stable peace among members of a group--even in times of change and conflict--with reasonable certainty over a long period of time. By "sense of community," it is meant that a consensus has developed among the i...