United Nations and Global Institutions

Technology has facilitated globalization, connecting the world more closely than in the past.
Historically, America was self-contained, producing and consuming domestically, with limited global interaction.
This has shifted with the emergence of global institutions.

Founded in 1919 by the great powers in Paris after World War I.
Aimed to prevent future wars by fostering international cooperation.
Ultimately failed as evidenced by the outbreak of World War II.
A key reason for its failure: major countries like the United States, Russia, and Germany were not initially members.
The US adopted an isolationist attitude, focusing on domestic growth and avoiding foreign conflicts.
Britain and France, weakened by World War I, were unwilling to engage in further conflicts.
The League of Nations became largely a debating forum without real power.
The League of Nations headquarters building is located in Geneva.

Discussions to replace the League of Nations began as early as 1941 during World War II.
The UN was formally discussed in 1945 and first met in 1946.
Primary goal: to save future generations from the "Scourge of War".
A response to the two devastating world wars within a short period.
Aimed to create a world that would not repeat the horrors of the Holocaust and mass civilian casualties.
The UN strives to establish justice, respect international law, and promote social progress.
Focuses on improving living standards globally, especially in developing countries. (e.g., Sierra Leone, Bangladesh).
The UN played role in Ukraine and other war conflicts with international peace keeping forces as a buffer between countries.
In San Francisco, they created the outline of the six branches of the United Nations.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) aids millions of refugees worldwide, addressing immigration challenges.
The UN can legislate agreements between countries, defining borders and troop levels.
Peace and Security: preventing conflicts and maintaining peace.
Improving the Standard of Living: working towards better living conditions worldwide.

The primary institution where every member country is represented.
Meets at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
Includes representation for entities without their own country, such as the Palestinian and Kurdish people.
United Nations acknowledges and represents cultures that lack a homeland.
Geopolitics and Nationhood: Wars and conflicts have shaped the world, leaving numerous cultures without their own countries.

Deals with issues related to international relations and military matters.
Composed of 15 members, with 5 permanent members: United States, Britain, France, China, and Russia.
Originally, China's seat was held by the Kuomintang government, which later moved to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War.
The seat was transferred to mainland China in 1971.
The Soviet Union's seat now belongs to Russia after the USSR dissolved in 1991.

Each permanent member has veto power.
The veto can prevent the Security Council from taking action on important issues because all five permanent members must agree.
Example: The US consistently vetoes resolutions condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Controversial topics like the Ukraine conflict are difficult to address due to potential vetoes.
The Security Council agreed to act against Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Countries are not usually affiliated with other major powers to serve as buffer between the two.

Military forces that serve as a buffer between conflicting countries.
They are selected from countries not affiliated with major powers (e.g., Ireland, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Ghana).
They served between Israel and Lebanon.
Uniforms: powder blue hats.
Role: Primarily defensive and not allowed to be aggressive.

UNICEF: Works to help children around the world.
Provides disaster relief in countries affected by natural disasters like flooding in Bangladesh or the tsunami in Indonesia.
International Criminal Court: Prosecutes individuals for war crimes (located in The Hague, Holland).
Secretary-General: The top administrator, with a new appointment every five years (never American, Russian, or Chinese).
Example: Kurt Waldheim, former Secretary-General, was revealed to have been a prison guard at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.
International Court of Justice: Created to address human rights violations and mistreatment of civilians and prisoners of war, based on experiences from World War II.

The US is considered a significant violator of human rights due to its immigration policies and the death penalty.