Touted as a candidate for sheriff in a world without law, the United States accepts that it has obligations but is wary about taking on unlimited responsibility. Yet problems continue to erupt in a very fluid environment. Multilateral crisis management under some sort of international mandate is one attractive possibility. Operating under the mandate of an international organization, however, requires advance planning and engagement. Despite ongoing improvements the UN remains an imperfect instrument.
Regional organizations are even less capable.
This situation has fostered renewed interest in regionalism. Regional organizations have both advantages and disadvantages for this role. The more modest scope of these deliberations and decisions tends to allay concerns. However, many express concerns about their impartiality. Apart from NATO and the EU, few regional organizations have significant resources or effective bureaucracies.