在冷戰期間,受到美、蘇對峙以及兩極體系結構牽制,「國際安全機構」──特別是聯合國──在衝突解決方面並無法發揮應有功能。在冷戰結束後,原有結構性束縛解除,國際安全機構的運作與功能重新回歸正常,甚至獲得了提昇,也更受到世人重視與期待。本文的目的首先要針對所謂的「國際安全機構」做概念以及理論方面的釐清及討論、檢視國際安全機構的制度作用,並進一步分析其在制度化解決族群衝突過程當中扮演的角色。本文主張國際安全機構干預族群衝突的乃是內部制度化轉型的結果;從另外一個角度來看,族群衝突的初步解決同時也反映了國際安全機構嘗試將衝突解決予以制度化的努力。
During the Cold War era, international security institutions, especially the United Nations, are restrained by the structure of the bipolar system and have limited effect in conflict resolution. After the Cold War, the operation of international security institutions is back to normal, even getting promoted. And the whole world is watching and deeply concerned about this change. First of all, the concept of “international security institutions” and theoretical analysis will be introduced. Secondly, the article will review the institutionalization process, and claims that intervention of ethnic conflicts is the result of the international security institutions' institutionalization and transformation. On the other hand, the intervention of ethnic conflicts shows the international security institutions are going to institutionalize conflict resolution as part of their conflict regulating procedures.