UN Flashcards

1
Q

UNGA

A

General assembly, used to discuss general matters. Anyone of the 193 memebrs can bring up topics, needs 2/3 majority to pass a resolution.

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2
Q

Evolution of GA

A

45-60: Dominated by west,
56-80s: 3rd World joining, mainly afro-asian states to balance the power
80s-now: Marginalisation and revival, reforms led to increased power of GA and forming of voting blocs

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3
Q

Evaluation of GA

A

Largely ineffective due to
1. Subortination to UNSC
2. Voting blocs
3. Inability to take actions
4. Inefficient process
*DID IMPROVE WITH RESOLUTION 377A

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4
Q

Resolution 377(a): Uniting for Peace

A

Passed in 1950 due to UNSC’s deadlock with constant USSR and China veto. Gave UNGA to bypass SC when passing resolutions.
*Can only be credited for bringin up issues and discussing them openly, ackowledge the effort

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5
Q

UNSC

A

Security Council, made up of 5 permanent members and 10 rotating members on 2 year terms with 5 replaced each year. Most powerful UN body with the ability to use force and impose sanctions.

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6
Q

Evolution of UNSC

A
  • During CW (45-60): Became a battleground for US and USSR
  • Detente (60-70s): Tensions decreasing after CMC, expanded members form 11 to 15 in 62.
  • Renewed CW (80s-91): Increased tensions and clashes between US and commies
  • End of CW (89/91): Finally improvement sto SC where there are not as many deadlocks
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7
Q

Evaluation of UNSC

A

Largely ineffective due to
1. Veto, USSR used a total of 121 vetoes
2. Dependent on will of P5
3. Rigid structure, never reformed since 62
4. Overly exclusive, only P5 and 10 other countries

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8
Q

UNICJ

A

International Court of Justice, responsible for composing International Law and arbitrate issues that is brought up

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9
Q

Composition of ICJ

A

15 judges, 1 from each of the P5, president to be elected from the 15.

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10
Q

Role of ICJ

A
  1. Settle legal disputes submitted and give advisory opinions
  2. Arbitrate issues with both parties consent
    *Based on laws rather than international politics
    *No juristiction over violence cases
    *No binding effect, only advisry opinion
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11
Q

UNSG

A

Secretary General, acts as the administrative officer and sometimes as the commander of PKO forces. Can raise issues up to the GA and SC, and needs to generate an annual report for GA.

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12
Q

Trigve Lie

A

1946-1952, from Norway, relatively successful
- Pragmatic SG
- 48 Palestine PKO mediated conflict
- 50-53 Korean War, supported US but ended in stalemate

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13
Q

Dag Hammarskjold

A

1953-1961, from Sweden, most successful
- Intelligent and dedicated, ideal for carrying out PKOs
- 56 Suez Canal, success
- 58 Lebanon Civil War, organised US intervention, success

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14
Q

U Thant

A

1961-1971, from Burma, less successful
- Calm and selg assuring SG, ideal for conflict mediation
- 64 Cyprus, stablised situation, success
- 62 CMC, was the messenger but decision made by superpowers, failure
- 68 Prague Spring, hindered by USSR veto

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15
Q

Waldheim

A

1972-1981, from Austria, less successful
- Well rounded, focused more on secreatary aspect
- 72 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, stablised situation, success
- 64-75, Vietnam War, not much progress
- Divisions within UN, Waldheim unable to solve

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16
Q

De Cuellar

A

1982-1991, from Peru, more successful
- Calm and diplomatic
- 79-89, Afghanistan, supervised USSR withdrawal, success
- 90-91 Gulf War, key role in UN negotiations
- 80-88 Iran-Iraq war, only sent observers, failure

17
Q

Boutros Boutros Ghali

A

1992-1996, from Egypt, unsuccessful
- Arrogant, unfeeling and abrasive
- Successful reforms
- 92-92 Somalia, allowed countries to withdraw, failure
- 93-96 Rwanda, 1m killed, failure
- 92-95 Bosnia, couldnt do nuts

18
Q

Kofi Annan

A

1997-2006, ok ok only
- Above average with his energy and diplomatic skills
- 97-06, Ghana success
- 99-02 East Timor, INTERFET won with Kofi’s support
- R2P UN reforms, success
-99 Kosovo, ended only with NATO bombing

19
Q

Determinants of SG’s success

A
  1. Personality
  2. Interpretation of the rols
  3. International climate
  4. Use of good office (competency)
20
Q

UNPKO’s basis of operation

A

Peacekeeping Operations that works on the basis of 5 rules
1. Host party consent
2. Impartiality
3. Non-use of force (unless necessary)
4. Absence of P5
5. Sharing of costs among members

21
Q

Phases of PKO

A

Emergence: 48-56
Golden Age: 56-66
Detente and renewal of CW: 66-88
Resurgence: 88/89/91-now

22
Q

Factors affecting success of PKO

A
  1. Great power rivalry in SC
    2, Political will of member states
  2. Host state consent
  3. Presence of clear mandate
  4. Financial issues
  5. Roles of UNSG
  6. Involvement of regional
  7. Nature of conflict
  8. nternational climate
23
Q

Suez Crisis: Success

A
  • France, Brits and Israeli invaded Egypt when Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal in 56
  • UN intervened, Hammarskjold ordered an immediate retreat
24
Q

Cambodia: Success

A
  • Vietnam decided to invade Cambodia and set up a pupper government of Kampuchea in 1978
  • UN set up interim government and UNTAC (92), oversaw withdrawal of Viet
25
Q

East Timor: Success

A
  • Indonesia invaded E.T. in 1999
  • UNAMET during conflict, INTERFET for conflict resolution, UNTAET for aftermath
  • Most objectives achieved, host state consent obtained, strong will of members
26
Q

Somalia: Failure

A
  • Post independence Somalia militarised in 92 under Said’s play, obtaining arms from both US and USSR
  • Civil war broke out as factions all got arms
  • UNITAF successfully delivered humanitarian aid
  • But UNOSOM personnel died, no consent, failed to establish long lasting peace, political will declined
27
Q

Rwanda: Failure

A
  • 90-93 Civil War, 93-96 Hutus started to ethnically cleanse the Tutsis
  • UNOMUR and UNAMIR set up, however did little, and personnels even declines
  • Successful in assisting the signing of Arusha Accords and delivering humanitarian aid
  • Unsuccessful in quelling violence, with declining political will and poor organisation
28
Q

Kosovo: Failure

A
  • 96-99, President Tito died, Slavs demanded more autonomy, civil war broke out among the split country
  • UNMIK ;achieved its objectives, set up free elections and deterred against tension renewal
  • But SC absent during the most dire situations, and did not stop illegal NATO bombing. Relied heavily on NATO as well.