一九九九年，歐洲安全暨合作組織的五十四個參與國在土耳其首都伊斯坦堡，舉行二十世紀最後的一次高峰會議。高峰會議的氣氛雖受到俄羅斯出兵車臣的影響，但高峰會議還是通過令各界矚目的歐洲安全憲章。歐洲安全憲章的通過被譽為是伊斯坦堡高峰會議的重要成就。歐洲安全憲章雖是一份不具法律約束力，僅具政治約束力的文件，它卻可被視為是替冷戰結束後，歐洲－大西洋國家討論有關歐洲安全問題的過程劃下一個句點。即使不是句點，至少是一個結束討論過程的開始。這對二十一世紀的歐洲安全具有規範性和指標性的作用。本文的研究目的旨在分析和評估歐洲安全憲章的緣起、討論過程、結構與內容，以及它對歐洲安全體系可能的影響與潛在作用。

　　　　　In 1999 the 54 participating states in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held a summit meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, described as the last great summit meeting of the 20th century. Although the situation in Chechnya (Russia started a military offensive in Chechnya several weeks before) cast a shadow over the summit, the leaders of the 54 participating states adopted the Charter for European Security. The Charter was regarded as an important accomplishment of the summit. The Charter is not a legally-binding document but, rather, a politically-binding document. Nevertheless, it can be construed as the final result of a discussion process concerning the issue of European security among Euro-Atlantic States. If not the final result, it is the beginning of the end. For European security in the 21st century, the Charter has a normative and exemplary effect. This study is intended to analyze and assess the cause, process, construction, and the contents of the OSCE-Charter for European Security and to explore its possible influences on the European security system.