The UN: Challenges and Developments Since 1945

Framing Questions

• Does the UN reconcile great power politics and universalism?
• Why is the UN more involved in domestic matters and what are the limits?
• What are the UN's successes and challenges regarding conflict prevention and sustainable development?

Reader's Guide

• The chapter examines the UN's development and challenges since 1945.
• The UN is a grouping of states, prioritizing state sovereignty.
• UN institutions reflect a blend of great power consensus and universalism, emphasizing state equality.
• UN involvement within states is increasing, recognizing human rights as integral to global order.
• International tensions can arise from human rights or economic issues, challenging traditional intervention views.
• The UN is adapting to new global challenges, including debate on effectiveness and multilateralism.

Introduction

• The UN encompasses the central system in New York, specialized agencies (e.g., WHO), and funds/programmes (e.g., UNICEF).
• The UN aims for a just and peaceful global community, with universal legitimacy for security, economic/social development, human rights, and environmental protection.
• The UN's evolving role addresses inter-state conflicts and non-state actors, political/economic/social conditions, and relevance/effectiveness debates.
• The 2003 Iraq War and 2011 Libya interventions sparked UN criticism and relational crises.
• The Syrian conflict since 2011 presents another critical challenge.

A brief history of the United Nations and its principal organs

• The UN was established in 1945 by 51 countries post-WWII, aiming to correct League of Nations issues.
• Member states agree to the UN Charter, outlining basic principles: maintaining peace/security, developing relations, solving problems, and upholding human rights.
• The UN structure includes the General Assembly, Security Council, and other organs, prioritizing state needs and interests.

Box 21.1 : Selected articles of the UN Charter

• The UN Charter highlights the rights of both states and individuals.
• The Charter includes provisions for peaceful conflict resolution (e.g., negotiation, arbitration).
• A key principle is non-intervention in domestic matters.

Box 21.2 : Principal organs of the United Nations

• The Security Council holds primary responsibility for international peace and security, with permanent members and veto power.
• The General Assembly comprises all member states with one vote each, primarily making recommendations.
• The UN Secretariat manages the administrative work of the UN.

The United Nations System

• The UN system comprises various organs and subsidiary bodies focused on economic/social issues, security, and international cooperation.

The UN Charter placed more emphasis than the League Covenant...

• The UN focused on promoting social/economic advancement, addressing the 1930s global crisis.
• The UN Charter established the ECOSOC to handle economic/social issues, unlike the League’s approach.
• The UN encompasses many institutions and programmes addressing diverse concerns (e.g., specialized agencies, funds).

The UN and the maintenance of international peace and security

• The Cold War significantly hampered UN peace efforts, affecting the Security Council and its ability to function effectively.
• The UN established peacekeeping mechanisms, though often lacking explicit provisions in the Charter.
• Post-Cold War, UN peace efforts evolved, addressing civil conflicts and other global threats.

Case Study 21.1 : UN peacekeeping in the Congo

• The UN peacekeeping missions in the Congo (ONUC, MONUC, and MONUSCO) faced challenges regarding internal conflicts, external interference, and human rights violations.

Increased attention to conditions within states

• The UN's initial focus on international order among states shifted, eventually recognizing the importance of the individual's rights and basic needs (e.g., food, water).

Case Study 21.2 : The 2003 intervention in Iraq

• The 2003 Iraq intervention highlighted the tension between the sovereignty of states and the protection of human rights.
• Differences over UN authorization and Iraq’s potential weapons of mass destruction caused a crisis.
• Post-2003 efforts to address conflicts have emphasized a greater UN focus on the prevention of conflicts through mediation and diplomacy.

The United Nations and economic and social questions

• The UN aimed to promote global social/economic progress, with differing perspectives and priorities among member states.
• Several global conferences and initiatives (e.g., MDGs, SDGs) addressed global development, though challenges remain.

Conclusion

• The UN’s role and regulations have become more intricate over the past 70 years, encompassing many activities related to international relations.
• The UN’s effectiveness depends on cooperation among member states and its ability to adapt to evolving global challenges.
• Participation in the UN enhances state status/influence.

Questions

• The document concludes with a list of questions about UN efforts to maintain order, states' interests, and intervention.

This quiz explores the United Nations' role in global politics since its establishment in 1945. It covers topics such as the balance between great power politics and universalism, the UN's increasing involvement in domestic matters, and its successes and challenges in conflict prevention and sustainable development. Test your understanding of how the UN balances state sovereignty with the need for human rights and global cooperation.