Global Exam 2

United Nation slides

WW2

deadliest conflict in human history: 70–85 million deaths worldwide

WHY BUILD A POSTWAR INTERNATIONAL ORDER?

• Unprecedented destruction
  revealed the catastrophic costs of
  great power rivalry

• Failure of interwar system (League of Nations, economic
  nationalism, appeasement)

Example of postwar international order

• Recognition that economic
  instability fuels conflict

• Desire to institutionalize
  cooperation rather than rely on
  balance-of-power politics

• Goal was to create rules and
  institutions to promote global
  peace, stability, and prosperity

The UN has six main organs

(i) General Assembly
(ii) Security Council
(iii) Economic and Social
Council
(iv) Trusteeship Council
(v) International Court of
Justice
(vi) Secretariat

(1)

General Assemby

(2)

Security Council

(3)

Economic and Social lCounci

(4)

Trusteeship Council

(5)

International Court of Justice

(6)

Secretariat

Sovereign equality

All member states are equal, regardless of size, military power, or wealth

Each state has

one vote in the General Assembly

What do states have?

• Peaceful settlement of
  disputes

• Obligation to support
  Security Council decisions

• Non-intervention in
  domestic affairs

Scope of activity has

expanded over time

covers over 150 topics, examples are

Arms control,
Development,

Global resource management,
Human rights

One state, one vote

regardless of size, wealth, or military power

BUT inequality exists in the UN framework

UN Security Council

PERMANENT FIVE

Britain, United
States,

China,
Russia,

France

UN sercuity council

One of the six main UN
organs
Responsible for maintaining international peace and security

WHY P5?

Represent the major victors of World War II,

examples of why p5

Given veto to ensure their participation and support in the UN, Intended to maintain postwar peace and stability

VETO POWER

can block any substantive Security Council resolution only if p5

Example of veto

US used its veto three times to block Security Council efforts for an immediate ceasefire,

JUSTICE VS. PEACE

Created after WWII to prevent another global conflict

Trade-off

Can undermine justice and accountability in global crises

CRITICS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

veto often leads to deadlock, limiting the Council’s ability to respond to crises such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Syria

another example of un security council

reflects the power structure of the post-World War II global order

THE UN’S GLOBAL ROLE

Embodies liberal aspiration to build a better, more cooperative world

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Main, Approves UN budget, elects members to other UN bodies, and appoints the Secretary-General

UN Security Council is responsible for

maintaining international peace and security

10 Non-Permanent Members

elected by UN General Assembly for two- year terms

EXAMPLE SANCTIONS, Security Council

Pressured South African government to end racial segregation and institutionalized discrimination

Ineffectiveness and bureaucracy

• Slow decision-making
  and cumbersome
  processes
  • Limited ability to enforce
  resolutions

Power imbalances

Security Council
dominated by five
permanent members (P5)
• Smaller states have little
influence

Failure to prevent conflicts and abuses

failure to meet its mandate

RWANDAN
GENOCIDE

Lack of political will: Major powers (e.g., US, France, Belgium) avoided decisive action

CONSEQUENCES of rwandan genocide

delayed decisions on sending additional troops fearing political risks, more causalties

Financial and accountability issues

Depending on member, Allegations of corruption or mismanagement in programs