The United Nations II: Problems, Challenges & Need for Reform

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, actors, and criticisms related to the United Nations’ problems, challenges, and reform needs.

United Nations (UN)

Global intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 to maintain international peace, security, and cooperation.

Group of 77 (G77)

Coalition of developing nations that emerged in the 1960s to promote collective economic interests within the UN.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

UN body created in 1964 to address trade, investment, and development issues of the Global South—viewed as antithetical to U.S. interests at the time.

UN Security Council (UNSC)

Primary UN organ for maintaining international peace and security; composed of five permanent veto-holding members and ten rotating members.

UN General Assembly (UNGA)

Deliberative body of all UN member states; each state has one vote, often dominated by Global South blocs during the Cold War.

Multilateralism

Coordinated diplomatic strategy among three or more states, often through institutions like the UN—viewed skeptically by the Trump administration.

Republic of China (RoC)

Government that signed the UN Charter in 1945 and retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing control of mainland China.

People’s Republic of China (PRC)

Government established in 1949 on mainland China; recognized by the UN as “China” after Resolution 2758 (1971).

UNGA Resolution 2758 (1971)

General Assembly decision transferring China’s UN seat from the RoC (Taiwan) to the PRC and expelling Taiwan from the organization.

Sovereignty

Principle that states have supreme authority within their territories—an existential constraint on UN action.

International Politics

Power relations among states that constitute the fundamental challenge to UN effectiveness.

Ineffectiveness and Inaction

Frequent criticism of the UN for failing to intervene decisively, e.g., Rwanda (1994) and Yemen (present).

Coordination and Management Issues

Problems of overlapping mandates, competition for resources, and top-down administrative inefficiencies among UN agencies.

Assessed Contributions

Mandatory financial payments by member states, calculated by ability to pay, that fund the UN’s regular budget.

Funding Crises

Recurring shortfalls (1960s, 1980s, 1990s) resulting from members’ non-payment of assessed contributions.

Big Business & Private Foundations

Non-state actors playing an increasing role in financing UN projects, supplementing state contributions.

Global Compact (2000)

UN initiative inviting corporations to adopt shared values on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Business practices that integrate social and environmental concerns—promoted within the UN framework to align profit with public good.

Institutional Constraints

Structural limits stemming from the post-WWII design, redundant agencies, limited transparency, and scarce resources.

Veto Power

Right of each permanent UNSC member (U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China) to block any substantive resolution.

Security Council Reform

Proposals to enlarge UNSC membership and alter veto rules to reflect contemporary power distribution.

Non-State Actors

Entities such as NGOs, MNCs, and foundations whose growing involvement poses integration challenges for the UN.

Top-Down Management

Hierarchical administrative approach that contributes to inefficiency and slow decision-making within UN agencies.

Great Power Politics

Influence of dominant states over UNSC decisions, leading to vague, inconsistent resolutions.

Principle of Sovereign Equality

Norm that all UN members are formally equal—creates tension when larger funders carry heavier financial burdens.

Globalism

Pejorative term used by critics to describe perceived excessive reliance on international institutions like the UN.

Peacekeeping Forces

UN-authorized troops deployed to maintain ceasefires; occasionally involved in misconduct and criminal activity.

Proposed UN Tax

Suggested levy on international arms sales or currency transactions to secure independent UN funding.

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Large for-profit firms courted by the UN for funding and partnerships, raising concerns about influence and accountability.

Haiti Earthquake (2010)

Disaster revealing poor coordination among UN agencies competing for resources in crisis response.

Rwandan Genocide (1994)

Case where UN inaction led to mass atrocities, exemplifying criticism of organizational ineffectiveness.

Canada–UN Relations

Historically strong support, frequent UNSC membership, yet criticized by the UN over Indigenous rights and corporate oversight.

United States–UN Relations

Characterized by oscillation between engagement and bypassing; more supportive post-9/11, skeptical during Trump era.

Germany/Japan Contributions

Large financial donors advocating for permanent UNSC seats to match their economic weight.

For-Profit Private Sector Integration

Process of bringing businesses into UN initiatives to expand capacity while advancing corporate interests.

UN Reform Efforts

Ongoing attempts to improve coordination, finance, management, and Security Council structure.