The world is flailing in the face of successive threats to its peace and security. It is beleaguered by a set of recurring and intensifying crises. Terrorist networks, proliferation of nuclear weapons, climate change, religious intolerance and hatred, roving militias and insurgents, genocide, mass migration, organized crime, trafficking in women and children paralyze us. We are neither able nor willing to tackle these crises effectively and efficiently. We have lost confidence in our international institutions and national governments to respond adequately. What can we do?

The world cries out for new thinking and creativity. Sovaida Ma'ani Ewing answers that effective, just and comprehensive collective security are within the world's grasp. Past efforts and innovative thinking have shown some promise but have been ineffective on their own. The author shows how they fit as isolated pieces within a larger jigsaw puzzle of a brighter collective future. By identifying and applying a set of clear foundational principles she suggests ways to improve past effort and move consciously and more effectively towards collective maturity. Building on these principles and applying them, she recommends concrete, practical and high impact recommendations for action by the international community to build a system of collective security that will ensure the peace of the world.