UN

Question 1

how many countries were part of the UN when it formed compared to now

Answer 1

51 and now has 193

Question 2

4 purposes of the UN charter

Answer 2

to maintain international peace and security;
to develop friendly relations among nations;
to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting human rights;
and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations

Question 3

why was the function of the UN hampered during the cold war

Answer 3

• meant either nation could veto a decision is their major interests were threatened
• cold war rivalry also meant UN couldnt implement army
• cold war had meant that member states did not want to question the conditions of the sovereignty of states

Question 4

1945-1990, there were ___ substantive vetos, whereas 1990-2012 only __ vetos by security council

Answer 4

193, 25

Question 5

examples where UN has agreed a mandate for an agent to act on its behalf

Answer 5

gulf war in 1990 and korean war in 1950

Question 6

when have peacekeeping/enforcement missions usually been used?

Answer 6

Have been used when order in states have collapsed and when there are civil wars. also to achieve humanitarian ends

Question 7

Examples of peacekeeping missions and problems with it

Answer 7

Problem with these is they find it increasingly difficult to remain neutral. Examples include intervention in Somalia in early 1990’s and in Yugoslavia in 1990’s as well as assisting the Congolese national army against rebels in 2009

Question 8

What has the UN’s main focus shifted to after the cold war and why?

Answer 8

Human rights
• After the cold war, it was felt threats to peace and security didn’t arise from aggression by states but rather from threats by civil conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, violations of global standards of human rights and poverty.

Question 9

• A 1991 UN general assembly changed the charter agreement so that there could be occasions where intervention was necessary even without what?

Answer 9

consent in the target state wasnt possible.

May be to protect citizens against genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity etc

Question 10

two examples of UN intervening in states without their consent to protect citizens

Answer 10

• Libya 2011 – a security council resolution approved a no-fly zone over Libya and called for ‘all measures necessary’ to protect civilians. A multi-state coalition intervened to implement the resolution as well as NATO later assuming command.
• 1992 security council resolution in Somalia was requested by the government. But a later resolution for the US to intervene didn’t mention the consent of the Somali authorities but at the time a central government didn’t exist in Somalia

Question 11

two examples where UN SC hasnt come to a resolution but states/IO’s intervene independently without approval

Answer 11

• Kosovo 1999- nato launched air campaign despite not having a mandate from the UN due to USSR’s veto. Nato claimed they were working in accordance to the principles of the UN
• Iraq war 2003- no agreement from security council over authorized military action. American and british diplomats pointed to a 1991 resolution which required the destruction of Iraqi wmd’s and a 2002 resolution which threatened ‘serious consequences’ if this was not done. France and Russia threatened to veto a second resolution. Credibility of UN damaged as US and British forces used force without UN authorization. Aftermath highlighted need for international cooperation

Question 12

example of when the GA used powers to address security issues when the SC cant or wont

Answer 12

suez crisis

Question 13

how do liberal institutionalists argue how the UN serves as a forum of cooperation? and one criticism of this

Answer 13

• the effects of a states actions on its relative power position can deter it from acting in self-interest and therefore lead to cooperation.
• Notion of collective security is compromised by the upholding if national interests and a lack of will to oppose allies
• However such institutions (eg the UN) are not independent actors as decisions regarding significant issues are hard to reach. IO’s rather help to facilitate cooperation.

Question 14

how could the UN be considered a instrument for powerful states

Answer 14

• Each of SC P-5 have used it as a tool for their own foreign policy to ‘legitimise’ an otherwise illegitimate action.
• Veto right of p-5 allows those states to act in own interest and prevent action that is against their interests
• SC has the power to authorise economic sanctions and military actions to prevent conflict and enforce a state compliance with decisions.
• SC recommends admissions of new members, choose secretary general
• Realism suggests that IO’s depend on states to act for their own interest; they consider institutions to reflect the distribution of power in the world and that they’re based on the self interest of great