United Nations

Security Council

  • Responsible for intergovernmental peace and security.

  • 15 members, each with a single vote.

  • Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, UK, and US.

  • Established in 1945 when the five major powers agreed that a negative vote from any of them would veto a resolution.

  • Proposals for reform include eliminating the veto, expanding membership, and including countries from Latin America and Africa as permanent members.

  • Changes to the Security Council require amendments to the UN Charter.

Economic and Social Council

  • Responsible for coordinating the UN's role in economic matters.

  • Can authorize the use of force to form peacekeepers.

  • UN Charter requires member states to comply with Security Council decisions.

Limitations

  • The UN doesn't have a standing army like the US.

  • Countries can ignore UN resolutions if they choose.

Trustee Council

  • Initially oversaw areas, including colonies, without self-governance.

  • Suspended operations after the last trustee territory achieved independence.

Korean War (1950-1953)

  • First UN involvement in a dispute between sovereign states.

  • North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) vs. South Korea (supported by the UN and US).

  • Security Council, in the absence of the Soviet Union, called on member states to help South Korea.

  • 16 nations under the UN flag formed the United Nations command led by American general Douglas MacArthur.

  • Ended with the Korean Armistice Agreement signed 07/27/1953.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

  • The US discovered Russian ballistic missiles being built in Cuba.

  • President Kennedy saw this as a threat and the US Navy blockaded Cuba.

  • The US presented its case to the UN Security Council with evidence of the missiles.

  • A deal was made between The United States and the Soviet Union to remove the missiles.

UN Peacekeepers

  • Primarily focused on maintaining peace and assisting people.

  • Do not engage in repelling invading forces.

Khmer Rouge in Cambodia

  • In December 1978, Vietnam ousted the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot.

  • The new government, backed by the Soviet Union, struggled for survival.

  • Eventually, Security Council members cooperated to address the conflict after the end of the Cold War.