by Madeleine K. Albright

About the author: Madeleine K. Albright is the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

If you were to search for one term that best describes the challenge confronting the new era, it is “collective security.” Every day we witness this challenge of collective security on television—some call it the “CNN effect”— and hear of it on the broadcasts of National Public Radio. Aggression and atrocities are beamed into our living rooms and cars with astonishing immediacy. No civilized human being can learn of these horrid acts occurring on a daily basis and stand aloof from them. But then, few of us want to respond alone. Collective security offers a means both to respond to these injustices and to protect our vital interests. But we have...