The United Nations Flashcards
what is the UN?
An organisation created in 1945 following World War II to promote international corporation and to prevent another such conflict
It is the only IGO where all the world’s states can be members
A global forum where all states regardless of the size of government or regime type can meet and engage in dialogue over challenges facing humanity in the 21st-century
These challenges include climate change international terrorism food production human rights poverty and humanitarian and health interventions
overriding aims of the UN
Upholding international laws and human rights
Committed to world peace and security insuring worldwide security economic development and social advancement existed to foster communication between its member states to achieve global goals which would be impossible individually most of what the UN does is centred around help in developing countries the council works with specialist agencies like the world health organisation is on the High Commissioner for refugees to achieve this promotes global corporation fights hunger poverty child mortality healthcare drugs promotes women’s rights et cetera
origins and development of the UN
Came into existence in October 1945 based on proposals by China the Soviet union the UK and the USA
Initially had 51 member states but membership has since grown to 193
Its headquarters is located in New York City
Funded through contributions of member states
Established after the horrors of World War II and the earlier failure of the league of Nations
The UN was established by 51 countries in October 1945 in the aftermath of the Second World War and now has expanded to 193 countries each member state that joins the UN signs up to his 1945 charter which outlines its key purposes and principles
what must each member state do?
Each member state agrees to uphold the terms of the 1945 UN charter the preamble talks of the UN is determination to rid the world of The scourge of war reaffirm human rights and equality establish the respect of the rule of law and international treaties and promote social progress and better living standards
Are you and hope still cheap this through states practising tolerance and behaving in enabling way working together to maintain international peace and security avoiding the use of Armed Forces except in the common interest and to use international means for economic and social advancement
what does Article 1 of the UN state?
Article one of the UN charter lays out the purposes of the UN
to maintain international peace and security and to that end to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace and to bring about by peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations that might lead to a breach of the peace
To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of people undertake other appropriate measures to strengthen international and universal peace
To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of economic social cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedom is for or without distinction as to race sex language or religion
To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends
what does Article 2 of the UN Charter lay out?
Article 2 of the UN charter sets out the principles of the UNThere are seven key principles two of which are crucially important
1) The organisation is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members (However the UNSC clearly privileges the P5 their veto can cause a resolution to fail or succeed)
7) Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorise the UN to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the state
These are two main ways that the UN charter protects state sovereignty
an example of how UN agencies and organisations have grown over the years
The US program specialised agencies and other related institutions have grown over the years for example the intergovernmental panel on climate change IPCC was set up by the US world meteorological organisation in 1988 and the International atomic energy agency was set up in 1957 as a forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field
what are the 6 main UN organs?
The UN has six main organs which were all established in 1945
The general assembly the Security Council the economic and social Council the International Court of Justice the UN Secretariat and the trusteeship council
The UN is separated into a number of administrative divisions that deal with specific subjects
what is the role of the UN General Assembly?
the UNGA Is the main body for over 193 UN members where they are all represented at meet annually for the general assembly session
Contrast to the concentration of power in the Security Council which only has 50 members
The talking shop of the world where each state has an equal say and all voices can be heard
Can be thought of as the UN parliament every member can participate in debates and is represented equally with one vote per state Regardless of size or power
The assembly acts as a parliament of Nations and can make decisions on the budget admittance of new members and matters of peace and security although all decisions require 2/3 majority
Decisions from the assembly or recommendations only they are not binding I cannot be in forced
The main representative deliberative and policy-making body of the UN
All peace security and budgetary decisions require a 2/3 majority is as does any decision to admit a new member which effectively recognises a state in the international community other decisions require a simple majority
The nature of the assembly has changed over time of the process of decolonisation of the admission of new countries to the UN general assembly is now more diverse with a greater range of interest represented than ever before
Includes nearly all internationally recognised countries 193 member states meet annually in September and debates issues on security and diplomacy e.g. in 2015 the major topic was climate change and help in developing countries faced the threat of global warming
Resolutions relating to defence and administrative issues like new membership and budget require a 2/3 majority is to be passed most of the issues only need a simple majority
Every country regardless of size get a single vote
There are two states in the US and that I’m not actual members Vatican City who is government is called the Holy See and Palestine (They are permanent nonmember observer states they can take part in debates but cannot vote)
It’s Annual meeting is held at the UN headquarters in New York each autumn it allows the world leaders to address the UN and there are often votes on major issues such as the 2012 though and Palestine is observer status membership of the UN
strengths of the UNGA
A global forum where every country is a member and no one is excluded — It is a genuinely global institution which gives its recommendations moral authority and constraints the behaviour of states it may not have in Enforcement power but the general assembly represents a huge proportion of world opinion so to ignore it will result in heavy criticism and condemnation
All member states can address concerns ranging from poverty and inequality to peace and security this allows relations between states to grow encourages international cooperation and develops a rule governed international system
Allows equal representation of all states in the international system — One country one vote enshrines the principle of equality of all states and gives the assembly legitimacy in a way that the Security Council does not
Unique in the world if it did not exist it would have to be invented
Winston Churchill famously said “jaw jaw is better than war war”
weaknesses of the UNGA
Works as a talking shop but has little power — No enforcement powers its decisions are only recommendations they are not binding on its members so the general assembly can be seen to lack power and influence, especially on issues such as conflict resolution
Gives equal say to democracies and dictators — One state one vote is unrealistic and illogical as it does not recognise the different population size or powers and capabilities of states
Represents the interests of states not people
Has been subject to block voting is where groups of state support each other to push an agenda through the body does not necessarily make decisions mutually many political rivalry is applied out in the general assembly they have also been criticisms of political posturing by those blocks e.g. the assembly has been frequently criticised by the USA and Israel for disproportionately focusing on allegations of abuses by Israel
what is the UN Security Council?
The most powerful body in the United Nations
Primarily responsible for Maintaining international peace and security the most important UN organ for maintaining peace and security in the world and probably the most important of all international organisations
When there is a threat to peace the council considers ways to settle the dispute peacefully it can result to economic sanctions and authorise the use of force if needed on the chapter 7 of the UN charter
Each member has one vote resolutions must be passed by majority of at least nine and this majority must include all of the P5 members if one P5 member does not want the resolution to pass it will not meaning that they have the power of veto
Can authorise military action to enforce its resolutions and has done so before for example against Iraq in 1990 to 1991
15 members five of whom are permanent members and 10 who are non-permanent members elected by the general assembly for two year period
10 nonpermanent members selected for two year terms by the general assembly three from Africa to from Asia to from Latin America to from Western Europe and others and one from Eastern Europe distributed on a geographical basis
Each member has one vote but permanent members have a veto
Decisions made by the UNSC are binding on all UN member states — It is the only you an organ that has the power to make decisions that member states are obligated to implement
Permanent members with the power of veto P5 China UK from the USA Russia winning powers in World War II Can block any proposed resolutions with which they disagree
10 nonpermanent members elected for two year term is representing Africa eastern Europe Asia Latin America and western Europe Chosen by regional quotas
Peacekeeping forces carry out the Security Council resolutions has around 100,000 soldiers
Exists to prevent conflict on a large-scale promoting peace through diplomacy or sanctions
The P5 Speedo power is incredibly controversial for example the US has vetoed dozens of resolutions against Israel for their actions in the Middle East
The other 10 are elected every two years to ensure that all world regions have representation in the Security Council
who are the 5 permanent members of the UNSC?
The five permanent members are the great power victims of World War II China France the UK the USA and the Soviet union now replaced by Russia
The five permanent members possessing the power of veto impacts the effectiveness of the USA when the interests of the big three public members USA China and Russia are threatened these powers will use their veto which prevents Security Council action as decisions required or five public members to agree
strengths of the UNSC
Represents the realities of the world power China and the USA and Russia are all strong and influential power is the USA is definitely a superpower and China challenge is the US hegemony and Russia is resurging as a dominant force
Can be a powerful force when acting collaboratively
Represents an idea of collective security and represents an idea of upholding the UN charter and maintaining world peace
The UN recognises the importance of major powers to international politics and by granting the P5 the veto it insures the participation of the major powers that are essential to make in the UN as a whole work
The absence of global war since 1945 can be seen as the council success in maintaining overall peace
Establishes a system of collective security the security of each state is the concern of Allstate and all agreed to join in a collective response to acts of aggression e.g. the UN action in the 1991 Gulf War
Peaceful resolution of international conflict through concerted council action e.g. interventions in Sierra Leone 1999 to 2005 and Burundi 1996 onwards
weaknesses of the UNSC
Often powerless to make decisions and take action due to permanent members rivalries and clashes of interest
Gives too much power to already very powerful states so is undemocratic
Historically outdated represents the world world of 1945 but no longer reflects the reality of World War II today arguably France and the UK are no longer powerful enough to be deserving of permanent membership
Lack of permanent members from South America Africa and Asia
Hard to reform as permanent members must agree to changes and will be unwilling to relinquish power
The principle of equality among states is violated by concentrating power in the USA especially the P5 which no longer represent the balance of power or regional balance arguably the UK and France should be replaced perhaps by Brazil and emerging economic power to represent South America or Nigeria to represent Africa
Funding troops and political will often lack this has been a key element of the failures of you admissions e.g. the failure to prevent the 1994 Rwanda genocide of the failures of the UN e.g. in Yugoslavia particularly the massacre at Srebrenica Where UN peacekeepers were based as well as in Rwanda and Syria
absence of global war maybe more down to the balance of power established in the bipolarArity of the Cold War and the UN
Success has been very limited as the council can do no more than its member states allow the P5 use the veto for their own ends rather than to build a collective security the UN charter provides for the creation of a UN standing army but rivalries between the P5 have made this impossible the decision by the USA to invade Iraq despite opposition from other leading members of the UNSC
what is the Economic and Social Council?
Oversees the many UN agencies and their work on economic and social issues And coordinate the economic social and environmental work of the UN
54 elected members Elected by the General assembly for three-year termsthat coordinate And oversee the work ofthe IMF the World Bank the World Trade Organisation the world health organisation the International labour organisation of the United Nations educational scientific and cultural organisation UNESCO
Maintains a wide link to society with registered links to over 3200 NGOs
The World Bank = and International organisation that offers concessional loans and grants to the worlds poorest developing countries in order to reduce poverty
The world trade organisation = an organisation that regulates international trade
While not as headline grabbing as the Security Council the economic and social Council is an important global form for looking at some of humanities most significant challenges that the UNSC does not tackle
Works to improve standards of living and support human rights Responsible for economic security and development of human rights
ECOSOC CASE STUDY: The World Health Organisation (WHO)
The world health organisation is a specialist agency of the UN overseen by the economic and social Council
It aims to increase international cooperation in the field of public health working towards the attainment of all peoples of the highest possible level of health
Particularly focused on fighting diseases controlling academics and improving all round healthcare
Historically it has worked on malaria tuberculosis and AIDS but in recent years they have been concerned with antibiotic resistant superbugs bird flu outbreaks and fighting the Ebola virus outbreak in west Africa from 2013 to 15
Successes have included the eradication of smallpox in the 1970s and the removal of polio from all the two countries child and maternal mortality have been significantly reduced et cetera
However it has been criticised for its inadequate response to the ebola epidemic
strengths of the ECOSOC
Important global issues have a forum — Bodies under the economic and social council include the world health organisation which coordinates work on public health across the globe the UN development program aims to promote global development with a specific emphasis on the least developed countries
An open forum for discussion at an international level where relations between states can develop and rules can be established
Quietly getting on with the huge task of improving the lives of Millions including the millennium development goals
Focuses on sustainable development
weaknesses of the ECOSOC
Not powerful enough — Lacks the ability to coordinate the various parts of the complex UN system and lacks the power to enforce decisions that power really lies with the IMF and World Bank in economic governance
Unclear and misunderstood role
To decentralised
Underfunded
The organisations that are overseas such as the World Bank the IMF and the WTO are arguably more powerful and influential than the economic and social Council itself rendering it useless
what is the International Court of Justice?
The principal judicial organ of the UN that resolve disputes between member states
Based in the Hague Netherlands
15 judges elected by the General assembly for nine-year times
Deals with sovereignty and border issues And territorial disputes between statesboth relating to land and sea — For example the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over the sovereignty of the temple of Preah Vihear which was eventually awarded to Cambodia
Judicial arm of the UN debates and prosecute international law violations however countries with significant power can often refuse to comply with the ICJ’s decision
ICJ CASE STUDY: The Temple of Preah Vihear
the Temple of Preah Vihear Is a 900-year-old Hindu temple on the border between Cambodia and Thailand
In 1962 and ICJ ruling awarded sovereignty to Cambodia but this has long been disputed
Fighting erupted between Cambodia and Thailand first 2009 and then much more seriously in 2011 this fighting and mistrust between the two countries is fuelled by nationalism
The ICJ reaffirmed in 2013 that the temple belongs to Cambodia it was ruled that the temple resided in territory that came under the sovereignty of Cambodia
strengths of the ICJ
Upholds the idea of international law and the principle that conflict should be resolved peacefully
Genuine neutrality makes decisions legitimate
Give states an opportunity to back down in conflict without losing face
There is a genuine need for it as there are so many disputes in the world
weaknesses of the ICJ
Both parties must agree to the ICJ having jurisdiction or the ICJ cannot take up a case
Has no enforcement power and no way of enforcing rulings — In 2013 China did not except that the ICJ could decide on whether it’s expansion of Chinese territory in the South China Sea was lawful or not
only 72 of the 193 members of the UN have agreed in advance to be bound by ICJ decisions, and even then the ICJ lacks the coercive power to enforce its will should these members choose to ignore a judgement
what is the Secretariat?
The Secretariat is made up of the secretary general of the UN and the staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN
Are you in civil service or bureaucracy staffed by you and officials from across the world includes branches such as the Department for peacekeeping operations the UN development program 40,000 staff all over the world
The UN Secretary General is appointed by the General assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council and service for a five year term they are the head of the Secretariat and therefore the chief administrator of the UN
The role is flexible and different secretaries interpreted differently but they are seen as the worlds number one diplomat that allegiances to the US and its value is not the nation of origin though they do have to maintain the support of member states with whom they work with
The secretary general is the head of the UN Kofi Annan 1997 to 2006 Ban Ki-moon 2007 2016 Antonio Guterres 2017 to present
The internal administrative workings of the UN they compile records communicate between different councils and I headed by the UN Secretary General
what is the Trusteeship Council?
The trusteeship council Suspended operations in 1994 when the last territory was overseeing Palau gained independence
Had been set up to oversee the administration of trust territories most former League of Nations mandated territories and territories of defeated powers
Its role was to ensure that they were run with the best interests of the inhabitants and international peace and security in mind
All 11 trust territories are now independent self-governing or have joined with neighbouring countries
No longer operational created in the nineteen forties to help developing territories and dependencies become independent Country is suspended in 1994 after helping over 70 countries gain independence
tip for evaluating the UN
Can use general points for the UN and also the different strengths and weaknesses of the individual UN organs
strengths of the UN: UNIQUE GLOBAL ORGANISATION
The UN is a unique global organisation as every state in the world as a member And it is the only IGO That allows any state to join regardless of size or regime type
No state is an excluded which encourages true corporation and enables states to resolve issues peacefully together within the same organisation rather than being shut out due to national differences
this means that the UN and its associated agencies are the forum where the world as a whole can cooperate to find solutions to global problems such as eliminating poverty and diseases
This also allows states to have worldwide communication networks develop common frameworks for dealing with the sea regulating space travel protecting Antarctica and discussing climate change
The UN is often produced in the public mind to the Security Council but this ignores the many elements that enable states corporations and people to interact on a daily basis
The existence of the UN shows the interconnectedness and interdependence is of the modern world
strengths of the UN: EQUALITY
Do you and represents the state of the world as equals irrespective of their power size wealth religion culture or system of government
For example in the general assembly they all have one vote which means that superpowers like the United States have exactly the same say as smaller, developing countries like Nigeria
weaknesses of the UN: HARD TO REACH AGREEMENTS
There are 193 sovereign states with competing national interest outlooks and cultural backgrounds which means they will often disagree making cooperation quite difficult to achieve
weaknesses of the UN: LACK OF ENFORCEMENT POWER
Lack of enforcement power the UN does not take sovereignty away from states so does not have the ability to compel states to act a certain way some argue that this renders the UN week and essentially powerless
However others argue that the UN particularly the UNSC is too strong especially considering that the P5 have the power to veto which allows them to knockdown decisions the USA is therefore dominated by already powerful countries, UNSC decisions are binding on all member states
weaknesses of the UN: INEFFECTIVE
Arguably it does not do enough and lacks effectiveness it is often slow to react to humanitarian disasters and catastrophes
This can be seen in the numerous failings of the UN specifically the USA e.g. Rwanda genocide 1994
However others argue that it does too much undermine state sovereignty by interfering in domestic affairs both of these are valid arguments
weaknesses of the UN: EQUALITY
Treating Allstate equally is unrealistic and illogical as it ignores the size and power as well as the capabilities of different states
It gives unsavoury governments and dictatorships an equal Platform to democracies
Give some countries too much say compare to the status in the international system — for example in the general assembly every country has one vote which means that the superpower like the United States has exactly the same amount of say as a country like Tuvalu Which is a tiny island in the Pacific with a population of only just over 11,000
other weaknesses of the UN
notoriously difficult to reform
the power of the veto in the UNSC
The P5 of the UNSC have a veto over decisions in the council
A decision needs nine votes in total from all members of the P5 and at least four from the non-permanent members of the UNSC
At abstention is not counted as a veto or a vote in favour
in what way can it be argued that the veto actually does represent the realities of world power?
In some respects the veto represents the realities of power politics in the world the USA China and Russia undeniably the three most powerful countries and any attempt to bypass the support to gain international legitimacy would be difficult if not impossible
use of the veto during the Cold War
During the Cold War the UNSC And the UN as a whole were not particularly effective because both the USA and the USSR would veto decisions where there interests were at stake especially on the admission of new states to the UN
Over the course of the Cold War the rivalry between the USA and the USSR resulted in 193 vetoes being used rendering the UNSC ineffective and essentially paralysed
During the Cold War the functioning of the UN was hampered by the ability of the USA and the USSR to use the veto on the Security Council whenever that interest with threatened
the USA’s use of the veto in support of Israel
In the last 10 years the USA has used its veto three times in defence of Israel from criticisms of its actions over Palestine and the occupied territories
Last vetoed a UNSC Resolution in 2011 whereas the UK and France have not used the veto since 1989
Russia’s use of the veto in defence of President Assad
More recently Russia has been condemned for its use of the veto in its defence of President Assad and the Syrian regime
Since 1993 Russia has vetoed seven resolutions concerning Syria
In February 2017 China and Russia vetoed the imposition of sanctions against Syria for their alleged use of chemical weapons this was the seventh time that Russia had used the veto to defend the Syrian government
Russia argued that sanctions would undermine the peace process, although the real reason for their vetoes may be because they have interests in maintaining the current Syrian regime
Russia has used the veto more than any other P5 member most recently as an ally of the Syrian regime Russia has used its veto power 12 times on draft resolutions concerning the Syrian Civil War that includes draft that would have allowed chemical weapons investigations impose sanctions and referred Syria to the International criminal Court
