The United Nations Notes

The United Nations: Everything you need to know:

Origins: Post WW2, 1945, A successor to the League of Nations, Role outlined in the UN Charter.

• Article 1: To maintain international peace and security, To develop friendly relations among nations, To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations.

• Article 2: The Key Principles: Sovereign equality of all member states- No intervention in domestic affairs.

Branches: UNGA, UNSC, ICJ

Development Since Founding: 1950/60s process of decolonisation led to an increase in UN membership. Growing focus on poverty alleviation. Following after, the Cold War produced gridlock in the UNSC from US/Soviet Union tensions. 1990s end of cold war surged UN activity, membership and humanitarian aid/peacekeeping missions. Further increased by the breakup of Yugoslavia and dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The UN Today:

193 member states- the most universal IGO

Addresses issues about Climate Change, Nuclear Disarmament and Global Pandemics

Missing Taiwan, Vatican City (observer) and Palestine (observer) (due to issues over sovereignty to religious neutrality)

The United Nations General Assembly:

Main UN body, 193 members represented equally with 1 vote

Meets annually

Promotes international issues- Human Rights, Economic Development, Climate Change

Key Functions:

1. Passes resolutions: not legally binding but serve as the basis for treaties and agreements

2. Electing Officials: elects the secretary-general, non-permanent UNSC members and ICJ judges

3. Approving the Budget: approves funding for various UN bodies and peacekeeping missions

How important is the UNGA?:

The UNGA is not important:

• Non-binding resolutions: decisions do not carry the force of law, member states are not obliged to comply. Makes it a forum for debate rather than action. e.g. Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law but Israel was not obliged to comply so this had no effect//UNGA call for the disarmament of nuclear weapons has not compelled the signing of binding agreements or action to dismantle arsenals

The UNGA is not important:

• Sets moral and political standards to guide behaviour through debate: UDHR laid the groundwork for human rights law including the ECHR. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Is a forum for political diplomatic engagement: annual debate addresses international challenges, fostering global unity.

• Can apply moral pressure on states: 2022 Russia invasion of Ukraine, 141 countries votes in condemnation, non-binding but isolated Russia politically and raised its diplomatic costs.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC):

Responsible for maintaining peace and security

Can impose sanctions, authorise force or establish peacekeeping missions

Membership:

The P5: UK, USA, China, Russia, France- Have the veto power

10 Rotational non-permanent members- sit 2 year terms, selected regionally

How it Operates:

Convenes at any time, decisions carry weight in the international community

Passing Resolutions:

Proposals must have at least 9 votes with support from all P5 members because of the veto

If a P5 member votes against with the veto it is dismissed

The Veto:

Any P5 member can block any resolution itself

Used frequently- US/Soviet Union during the cold war, US over Israel/The Middle East

Not used since 1989 by the UK and France- reflecting changing power in global politics

Designed to ensure no major power could be forced into action against its will and preserve the post WW2 balance of power

Strengths:

1. Rapid response: convenes quickly for a response

2. Can take decisive action to prevent the escalation of violence: authorising peacekeeping missions, sanctions or military force

Legitimacy:

Has international legitimacy: The power of the P5, regional non-permanent members

Decisions (particularly if strongly supported) are considered binding on all member states

Weaknesses:

1. The Veto: meaningful, needed action if often blocked by a veto, even if the majority of the council supports the resolution, leading to inaction

2. Poor representation and legitimacy: The P5 structure reflects post WW2 power, not the current landscape (BRIC). Produces a marginalised global south

3.  Inconsistent and selective responses to crisis: Largely driven by what appeals to P5 states. Creates the perception of bias and double standards in how the council chooses to act. P5 act in their own national interest over the UNSC principles.

4. Ineffective: Weak enforcement and inconsistent compliance to resolutions. e.g. sanctions are ignored by North Korea, Iran and Venezuela with a limited impact on their leadership but forcing the population further into poverty

Case Studies:

Successful Mission: Liberia 2003: civil war response. Mission disarmed 100,000 combatants and supporting the transition to a peaceful government.

Successful Veto: India-Pakistan over Kashmir: UK/US favoured a resolution favouring Pakistan and the demilitarisation of Kashmir. Soviet Union Vetoed arguing it unfairly favoured one party. This forced the UNSC to re-evaluate and re-approach more diplomatically preventing an escalation of two nuclear-capable countries.

Mixed Success of Unity/Failure of Sanctions: North Korea: UNSC was united to oppose the threat. The sanctions have been ineffective it still prioritises its nuclear military power over its populations wellbeing under the sanctions.

Failure of UNSC: Syrian Civil War: Russia, ally, vetoed all resolutions. Gridlock prevented action. Conflict dragged on for over a decade.

Failure of Sovereignty over States: US Iraq Invasion/Russia invasion of Crimea:

• 2003 Iraq, US claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, France, China and Russia called for more time to investigate. US and UK bypassed any vetoes and invaded unilaterally.

• 2022 Ukraine, Russia invaded and vetoed any resolutions. Veto protected P5 members self-interest. UNGA passed a non-binding resolution condemning the action but this did not carry the same legal weight as from the UNSC.

Evaluate the extent to which the United Nations has been successful in achieving its founding objectives.(30)

Evaluate whether the UN Security Council is still fit for purpose.(30)

Examine the effectiveness of the United Nations in international peacekeeping.(12)

Examine the differences between the role and significance of NATO and the role and significance of the UN.(12)

ETVT the rise of the UN has made soft power more significant than hard power in global politics.(30)

ETVT global governance through the United Nations (UN) has addressed human rights issues more successfully than environmental concerns. (30)