The best means of achieving collective security is by working to resolve conflicts through negotiation at an early stage (before any shooting starts).
Liberals believe that we should be more flexible and open minded in our approach to security. We advocate a transfer of political commitment and money from military to non-military security.
By non-military security we mean the techniques of arbitration, reconciliation work in areas of potential conflict, rebuilding the social and economic structure of areas where a fragile peace has been established and study of the causes and resolution of conflict. The development and maintenance of democracy is also important: it is not by chance that there has rarely been a war between two democratic states.
Non-military techniques have tended to be ignored, leading to situations developing with no action being taken until the options have become very limited (as in Bosnia).
We are committed to strengthening the UN, giving it new powers to act to resolve disputes, to enforce the Geneva Conventions, to promote democracy and to prevent substantial damage to the world's ecology. To do this however, it must be seen as impartial.
We are the only British political party to advocate the addition of a second Assembly, elected by people rather than by governments, removing the major powers right of veto in the Security Council and setting up new UN agencies to promote democracy and environmental protection.
There is now real hope for peace in the world if non-military, early stage intervention by the UN can be made acceptable.
The Liberal Party is committed to the abandonment of UK nuclear weapons (the Trident system) and other weaponry of indiscriminate destruction.
We wish to maintain conventional forces; professional, well equipped, well trained and sufficient to defend Britain's legitimate interests. We would always insist on every avenue of diplomacy, non-military action and negotiation being exhausted before embarking on military action.