A Research On Australia's Participation In United Nations Collective Security System

The purpose of this dissertation is to conduct a research on Australia's behavior in participating the United Nations collective security system.With the middle power theory as the research approach,this research will analyze the reasons for Australia's participation inside this system,sum up the characteristics and limits in the behavior,through the analysis of Australia's participation in different parts of this collective security system.Specifically,this research will focus on Australia's participation in three significant mechanisms of the system,namely the Security Council,peacekeeping operations and the disarmament mechanism.The main structure of this dissertation will be arranged as follows: firstly,introducing relevant concepts on collective security and the UN system,and the connections between Australia and middle power theory;secondly,analyzing Australia's participation in UN Security Council,peacekeeping operations and disarmament activities ever since the foundation of UN,conducting case analyses;thirdly,speculating and explaining reasons for Australia's behavior;lastly,summing up characteristics and limits for Australia's participation.This research concludes that,through the behavior in UN collective security system,Australia is well-fitted into the middle power behavioral approach.This has been proven by its strong diplomatic capabilities,its focus on multilateral platforms,as well as its flexibility in its policies and exercises.There are other reasons for the behaviors,which fall into different levels from domestic conditions to international background.Simultaneously,these behaviors also expose Australia's limits,which stems from its security alliance with the United States,its capability as a sovereign state,and its understanding of international order as a middle power.