Chapter 6 International Organisations PDF

Chapter 6 International Organisations OVERVIEW In this chapter we shall discuss the role of inter national organisations after the collapse of the Soviet Union. We shall examine how, in this emerging world, there were calls for the restructuring of international organisations to cope with var...

Chapter 6 International Organisations OVERVIEW In this chapter we shall discuss the role of inter national organisations after the collapse of the Soviet Union. We shall examine how, in this emerging world, there were calls for the restructuring of international organisations to cope with various new challenges including the rise of US power. The potential reform of the United Nations Security Council is an interesting case of the refor m pr ocess and its difficulties. We then turn to India’s involvement in the UN and its view of Security Council reforms. The This is the United Nations’ logo. The emblem has a world map chapter closes by asking if the UN with olive branches around it, signifying world peace. can play any role in dealing with Credit : www.un.org a world dominated by one superpower. In this chapter we also look at some other trans- national organisations that are playing a crucial role. 82 Contemporary World Politics WHY INTERNATIONAL “Talking shop? Yes, there are a lot of speeches and meetings at ORGANISATIONS? the U.N., especially during the annual sessions of the General Read the two cartoons on this Assembly. But as Churchill put it, page. Both the cartoons comment jaw-jaw is better than war-war. on the ineffectiveness of the Isn’t it better to have one place United Nations Organisation, where all… countries in the world usually referred to as the UN, in can get together, bore each other the Lebanon crisis in 2006. Both the cartoons represent the kind of sometimes with their words rather opinions that we often hear about than bore holes into each other on the UN. the battlefield?” — Shashi Tharoor, the former UN Under-Secretary- On the other hand, we also General for Communications and find that the UN is generally Public Information. regarded as the most important international organisation in These two quotes suggest today’s world. In the eyes of many something important. International people all over the world, it is organisations are not the answer indispensable and represents the to everything, but they are great hope of humanity for peace important. International organi- and progress. Why do we then sations help with matters of war need organisations like the UN? and peace. They also help Let us hear two insiders: countries cooperate to make That’s what they say better living conditions for us all. about the “The United Nations was not parliament too — created to take humanity to Countries have conflicts and a talking shop. Does heaven, but to save it from hell.” differences with each other. That it mean that we — Dag Hammarskjold, the UN’s does not necessarily mean they need talking shops? second Secretary-General. must go to war to deal with their © Harry Harrison, Cagle Cartoons Inc. © Petar Pismestrovic, Cagle Cartoons Inc. During June 2006, Israel attacked Lebanon, saying that it was necessary to control the militant group called Hezbollah. Large numbers of civilians were killed and many public buildings and even residential areas came under Israeli bombardment. The UN passed a resolution on this only in August and the Israel army withdrew from the region only in October. Both these cartoons comment on the role of the UN and its Secretary-General in this episode. International Organisations 83 antagonisms. They can, instead, discuss contentious issues and IMF The International Monetary Fund find peaceful solutions; indeed, (IMF) is an international organ- even though this is rarely noticed, isation that oversees those most conflicts and differences are financial institutions and regula- resolved without going to war. The tions that act at the international role of an inter national level. The IMF has 188 member organisation can be important in countries, (as on 1 September 2012) but they do not enjoy an equal say. The top ten countries this context. An international have more than 52 per cent of the votes. They organisation is not a super-state are the G-8 members (the US, Japan, Germany, IMF with authority over its members. France, the UK, Italy, Canada and Russia), China It is created by and responds to and Saudi Arabia. The US alone has 16.75 per states. It comes into being when cent voting rights. states agree to its creation. Once created, it can help member states Unfortunately, recognising the resolve their problems peacefully. need for cooperation and actually International organisations cooperating are two different are helpful in another way. things. Nations can recognise the Nations can usually see that there need to cooperate but cannot are some things they must do always agree on how best to do so, together. There are issues that are how to share the costs of so challenging that they can only cooperating, how to make sure be dealt with when everyone that the benefits of cooperating are works together. Disease is an justly divided, and how to ensure example. Some diseases can only that others do not break their end be eradicated if everyone in the of the bargain and cheat on an world cooperates in inoculating or agreement. An international vaccinating their populations. Or organisation can help produce take global war ming and information and ideas about how its ef fects. As atmospheric to cooperate. It can provide temperatures rise because of the mechanisms, rules and a spread of certain chemicals called bureaucracy, to help members have chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), there more confidence that costs will be is a danger that sea levels will also shared properly, that the benefits rise, thereby submerging many coastal areas of the world including huge cities. Of course, Make a list of issues or each country can try to find its problems (other than the own solution to the effects of ones mentioned in the global warming. But in the end a text) that cannot be more effective approach is to stop handled by any one the warming itself. This requires country and require an at least all of the major industrial international organisation. powers to cooperate. 84 Contemporary World Politics government? We shall try to FOUNDING OF THE UNITED NATIONS answer this question at the end of the chapter. 1941August: Signing of the Atlantic Charter by the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British PM Winston S. Churchill EVOLUTION OF THE UN 1942 January: 26 Allied nations fighting against the Axis Powers meet in Washington, D.C., to support the Atlantic The First World War encouraged Charter and sign the ‘Declaration by United Nations’ the world to invest in an 1943 December: Tehran Conference Declaration of the international organisation to deal Three Powers (US, Britain and Soviet Union) with conflict. Many believed that such an organisation would help 1945 February: Yalta Conference of the ‘Big Three’ the world to avoid war. As a result, (Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin) decides to organise a United Nations conference on the proposed world organisation the League of Nations was born. However, despite its initial April-May: The 2-month long United Nations Conference on success, it could not prevent the International Organisation at San Francisco Second World War (1939-45). Many more people died and were 1945 June 26: Signing of the UN Charter by 50 nations (Poland signed on October 15; so the UN has 51 original wounded in this war than ever founding members) before. 1945 October 24: the UN was founded (hence October 24 is The UN was founded as a celebrated as UN Day) successor to the League of Nations. It was established in 1945 October 30: India joins the UN 1945 immediately after the will be fairly divided, and that once a member joins an agreement it will honour the terms and conditions of the agreement. With the end of the Cold War, we can see that the UN may have a slightly different role. As the United States and its allies emerged victorious, there was concer n amongst many governments and peoples that the Western countries led by the US The US Office of War Information would be so powerful that there created the above poster during the Second World War as per the would be no check against their Declaration by United Nations of 1942. wishes and desires. Can the UN The poster features the flags of all serve to promote dialogue and nations that were part of the Allied discussion with the US in Forces. It reflects the belligerent origins particular, and could it limit the of the UN. power of the American International Organisations 85 Adapted from http://www.newint.org/issue375/pics/un-map-big.gif 86 Contemporary World Politics Second World War. The 2007. He is the first Asian to hold Search for at organisation was set up through the post since 1971. least one news item about the the signing of the United Nations The UN consists of many activities of Charter by 51 states. It tried to different structures and agencies. each of the achieve what the League could not War and peace and differences UN agencies between the two world wars. The between member states are UN’s objective is to prevent mentioned on discussed in the General inter national conflict and to this page. Assembly as well as the Security facilitate cooperation among Council. Social and economic states. It was founded with the issues are dealt with by many hope that it would act to stop the agencies including the World conflicts between states escalating Health Organisation (WHO), the into war and, if war broke out, to United Nations Development limit the extent of hostilities. Programme (UNDP), the United Furthermore, since conflicts often Nations Human Rights Commision arose from the lack of social and (UNHRC), the United Nations High economic development, the UN Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), was intended to bring countries the United Nations Children’s Fund together to improve the prospects (UNICEF), and the United Nations of social and economic Educational, Scientific, and development all over the world. Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), By 2006, the UN had 192 among others. member states. These includeed almost all independent states. In the UN General Assembly, all REFORM OF THE UN AFTER members have one vote each. In THE COLD WAR the UN Security Council, there are five permanent members. These Reform and improvement are are: the United States, Russia, the fundamental to any organisation United Kingdom, France and to serve the needs of a changing China. These states were selected envir onment. The UN is no as permanent members as they exception. In recent years, there were the most power ful have been demands for reform of Cold War or no immediately after the Second the world body. However, there is Cold War, one World War and because they little clarity and consensus on the reform is needed constituted the victors in the War. nature of reform. above all. Only democratic leaders The UN’s most visible public Two basic kinds of reforms should be allowed figure, and the representative face the UN: refor m of the to represent their head, is the Secretary-General. organisation’s structures and countries in the UN. The present Secretary-General is processes; and a review of the How can they allow Ban Ki-Moon from South Korea. issues that fall within the dictators to speak in the name of the He is the eighth Secretary-General jurisdiction of the organisation. people of their of the UN. He took over as the Almost everyone is agreed that country? Secretary-General on 1 January both aspects of refor m are International Organisations 87 necessary. What they cannot agree on is precisely what is to be done, UN SECRETARIES-GENERAL how it is to be done, and when it is to be done. Trygve Lie(1946-1952) Norway; lawyer and foreign minister; worked for ceasefire On the reform of structures between India and Pakistan on Kashmir; and processes, the biggest criticised for his failure to quickly end the discussion has been on the Korean war; Soviet Union opposed second functioning of the Security term for him; resigned from the post. Council. Related to this has been Dag Hammarskjöld(1953-1961) Sweden; the demand for an increase in the Economist and lawyer; worked for resolving the Suez Canal dispute and the UN Security Council’s permament decolonisation of Africa; awarded Nobel and non-permanent membership Peace Prize posthumously in 1961 for his so that the realities of efforts to settle the Congo crisis; Soviet Union contemporary world politics are and France criticised his role in Africa. better reflected in the structure of U Thant(1961-1971) Burma (Myanmar); the organisation. In particular, teacher and diplomat; worked for resolving there are proposals to increase the Cuban Missile Crisis and ending the membership from Asia, Africa and Congo crisis; established the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus; criticised South America. Beyond this, the the US during the Vietnam War. US and other Western countries want improvements in the UN’s Kurt Waldheim(1972-1981) Austria; diplomat and foreign minister; made efforts to resolve budgetary procedures and its the problems of Namibia and Lebanon; administration. oversaw the relief operation in Bangladesh; On the issues to be given greater China blocked his bid for a third term. priority or to be brought within the Javier Perez de Cuellar(1982-1991) Peru; jurisdiciton of the UN, some lawyer and diplomat; worked for peace in Cyprus, Afghanistan and El Salvador; countries and experts want the mediated between Britain and Argentina organisation to play a greater or after the Falklands War; negotiated for the more effective role in peace and independence of Namibia. security missions, while others Boutros Boutros-Ghali(1992-1996) Egypt; want its role to be confined to diplomat, jurist, foreign minister; issued a development and humanitarian report, An Agenda for Peace; conducted work (health, education, a successful UN operation in Mozambique; environment, population control, blamed for the UN failures in Bosnia, Somalia human rights, gender and social and Rwanda; due to serious disagreements, the US blocked a second term for him. justice). Kofi A. Annan (1997-2006) Ghana; UN Let us look at both sets of official; created the Global Fund to fight reforms, with an emphasis on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; declared reform of the structures and the US-led invasion of Iraq as an illegal act; processes. established the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council in 2005; The UN was established in awarded the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize 1945 immediately after the Second World War. The way it was Photo Credit: www.un.org 88 Contemporary World Politics terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, environmental degradation, epidemics). In this situation, in 1989, as the Cold War was ending, the question facing the world was: is the UN doing enough? Is it equipped to do what is required? What should it be doing? And how? What reforms are necessary to make it work better? For the UN60: A Time for Renewal Credit: www.un.org past decade and a half, member states have been trying to find organised and the way it satisfactory and practical answers functioned reflected the realities of to these questions. world politics after the Second World War. After the Cold War, those realities are different. Here REFORM OF STRUCTURES AND are some of the changes that have PROCESSES occurred: The Soviet Union has While the case for reform has collapsed. widespread support, getting agreement on what to do is The US is the strongest power. difficult. Let us examine the The relationship between debate over reform of the UN Russia, the successor to the Security Council. In 1992, the UN Soviet Union, and the US is General Assembly adopted a much more cooperative. resolution. The resolution China is fast emerging as a reflected three main complaints: great power, and India also is The Security Council no longer growing rapidly. represents contemporary The economies of Asia are political realities. growing at an unprecedented Its decisions reflect only rate. Western values and interests Many new countries have and are dominated by a few joined the UN (as they became powers. independent from the Soviet It lacks equitable representation. Union or former communist In view of these growing states in eastern Europe). demands for the restructuring of A whole new set of challenges the UN, on 1 January 1997, the confronts the world (genocide, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan civil war, ethnic conflict, initiated an inquiry into how the International Organisations 89 UN should be reformed. How, for instance, should new Security World Bank Council members be chosen? The World Bank was created immediately after the Second In the years since then, the World War in 1945. Its activities following are just some of the are focused on the developing criteria that have been proposed countries. It works for human for new permanent and non- development (education, health), agriculture per manent members of the and rural development (irrigation, rural services), environmental protection (pollution reduction, Security Council. A new member, establishing and enforcing regulations), it has been suggested, should be: infrastructure (roads, urban regeneration, A major economic power electricity) and governance (anti-corruption, WORLD BANK development of legal institutions). It provides A major military power loans and grants to the member-countries. In this way, it exercises enormous influence on the A substantial contributor to economic policies of developing countries. It is the UN budget often criticised for setting the economic agenda of the poorer nations, attaching A big nation in terms of its stringent conditions to its loans and forcing free population market reforms. A nation that respects democracy and human rights A country that would Clearly, each of these criteria make the Council more has some validity. Governments representative of the world’s saw advantages in some criteria diversity in ter ms of and disadvantages in others geography, economic systems, depending on their interests and and culture aspirations. Even if they had no desire to be members themselves, countries could see that the criteria were problematic. How big an economic or military power did you have to be to qualify for Security Council membership? What level of budget contribution would enable a state to buy its way into the Council? Was a big population an asset or a liability for a country trying to play a bigger role in the world? If respect for democracy and human rights was the criteria, countries with excellent records would be in line to be members; but would they be effective as Council members? 90 Contemporary World Politics members of the developing world? Even here, there are difficulties. The developing world consists of countries at many different levels of development. What about culture? Should different cultures STEPS or ‘civilisations’ be given representation in a more balanced  Divide the class into six groups. Each group is to way? How does one divide the follow one of the six criteria (or more if there are world by civilisations or cultures more suggestions) listed here for permanent given that nations have so many membership of the UN Security Council. cultural streams within their  Each group is to make its own list of the borders? permanent members based on its given criterion (e.g. the group working on the A related issue was to change ‘population’ criterion will find out the which are the nature of membership five most populous countries). altogether. Some insisted, for instance, that the veto power of  Each group can make a presentation of their the five permanent members be recommended list and reasons why their abolished. Many perceived the criterion should be accepted. veto to be in conflict with the Ideas for the Teacher concept of democracy and  Allow the students to opt for the group whose criterion they sovereign equality in the UN and themselves favour. thought that the veto was no  Compare all the lists and see how many names are longer right or relevant. common and how often India features. In the Security Council, there  Keep some time for an open ended discussion on which are five permanent members and criterion should be adopted. ten non-permanent members. The Charter gave the per manent Furthermore, how was the members a privileged position to matter of representation to be bring about stability in the world resolved? Did equitable after the Second World War. The representation in geographical main privileges of the five terms mean that there should be per manent members are one seat each from Asia, Africa, permanency and the veto power. and Latin America and the The non-permanent members Caribbean? Should the serve for only two years at a time representation, on the other hand, and give way after that period to be by regions or sub-regions newly elected members. A country (rather than continents)? Why cannot be re-elected immediately should the issue of equitable after completing a term of two representation be decided by years. The non-per manent geography? Why not by levels of members are elected in a manner economic development? Why not, so that they represent all in other words, give more seats to continents of the world. International Organisations 91 Most importantly, the non- JURISDICTION OF THE UN permanent members do not have the veto power. What is the veto The question of membership is a power? In taking decisions, the serious one. In addition, though, Security Council proceeds by there are more substantial issues voting. All members have one vote. before the world. As the UN However, the permanent members That’s very unfair! It’s completed 60 years of its actually the weaker can vote in a negative manner so existence, the heads of all the countries who need that even if all other permanent member-states met in September a veto, not those and non-permanent members 2005 to celebrate the anniversary who already have so vote for a particular decision, any and review the situation. The much power. permanent member’s negative leaders in this meeting decided vote can stall the decision. This that the following steps should be negative vote is the veto. taken to make the UN more While there has been a move relevant in the changing context. to abolish or modify the veto Creation of a Peacebuilding system, there is also a realisation Commission that the permanent members are Acceptance of the responsibility unlikely to agree to such a reform. of the international community Also, the world may not be ready in case of failures of national for such a radical step even governments to protect their though the Cold War is over. own citizens from atrocities Without the veto, there is the danger as in 1945 that the great Establishment of a Human powers would lose interest in the Rights Council (operational world body, that they would do since 19 June 2006) What are what they pleased outside it, and Agreements to achieve the the that without their support and Millennium Development Millennium involvement the body would be Goals Development ineffective. Goals? Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations Creation of a Democracy Fund An agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council It is not hard to see that these are equally contentious issues for the UN. What should a Peacebuilding Commission do? There are any number of conflicts all over the world. Which ones should it intervene in? Is it possible or even desirable for it to intervene  92 Contemporary World Politics in each and every conflict? Similarly, what is the responsibility of the international community in dealing with atrocities? What are © Pat Bagley, Cagle Cartoons Inc. human rights and who should determine the level of human rights violations and the course of action to be taken when they are violated? Given that so many countries are still part of the developing world, how realistic is it for the UN to achieve an ambitious set of goals such as those listed in the Millennium Development Goals? Can there be The humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan since 2003 has agreement on a definition of attracted empty promises by the International Community. terrorism? How shall the UN use How do you think the UN can intervene in situations like this? funds to promote democracy? And Would that require a change in its jurisdiction? so on. MAP OF UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS MISSIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS Sierra Western Sudan 2005- Cyprus 1964- Lebanon 1978- Afghanistan* Leone* Sahara 1991- 2002- Georgia 2006- Kosovo 1999- Israel and 1993- India and Syria 1974- Pakistan 1949- Ethiopia and Eritrea 2000- Haiti Côte d'Ivoire 2004- 2004- Liberia DR Congo Burundi Middle East Timor 2003- 1999- 2004- East 1948- 2006- * political or peacebuilding mission Adapted from http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/maplib/flag.html. Should the UN increase its peacekeeping activities? Place a star on the parts of the world where you would like to see the UN peacekeeping forces. International Organisations 93 INDIA AND THE UN REFORMS WTO India has supported the The World Trade Organisation restructuring of the UN on several (WTO) is an international grounds. It believes that a organisation which sets the rules for global trade. This organisation strengthened and revitalised UN is was set up in 1995 as the desirable in a changing world. successor to the General Agreement on Trade India also supports an enhanced and Tariffs (GATT) created after the Second role for the UN in promoting World War. It has 157 members (as on 1 development and cooperation September 2012). All decisions are taken among states. India believes that unanimously but the major economic powers such as the US, EU and Japan have managed development should be central to to use the WTO to frame rules of trade to the UN’s agenda as it is a vital advance their own interests. The developing WTO precondition for the maintenance countries often complain of non-transparent of international peace and security. procedures and being pushed around by big powers. One of India’s major concerns has been the composition of the Security Council, which has India supports an increase in remained largely static while the the number of both permanent UN General Assembly member- and non-permanent members. Its ship has expanded considerably. representatives have argued that India considers that this has the activities of the Security har med the representative Council have greatly expanded in character of the Security Council. the past few years. The success of It also argues that an expanded the Security Council’s actions Council, with more representation, depends upon the political will enjoy greater support in the support of the inter national world community. community. Any plan for restructuring of the Security We should keep in mind that Council should, therefore, be the membership of the UN broad-based. For example, the Security Council was expanded Security Council should have from 11 to 15 in 1965. But, there more developing countries in it. was no change in the number of permanent members. Since then, Not surprisingly, India itself the size of the Council has also wishes to be a permanent remained stationary. The fact member in a restructured UN. remains that the overwhelming India is the second most populous majority of the UN General country in the world comprising Assembly members now are almost one-fifth of the world Do we want to developing countries. Therefore, population. Moreover, India is also oppose the bossism India argues that they should also the world’s largest democracy. of the big five or do have a role in shaping the India has participated in virtually we want to join them decisions in the Security Council all of the initiatives of the UN. Its and become which affect them. role in the UN’s peacekeeping another boss? 94 Contemporary World Politics think that its difficulties with IAEA Pakistan will make India The International Atomic Energy inef fective as a per manent Agency (IAEA) was established in member. Yet others feel that if 1957. It came into being to India is included, then other implement US President Dwight emerging powers will have to be Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” accommodated such as Brazil, proposal. It seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to prevent its use for military Germany, Japan, perhaps even South Africa, whom they oppose. IAEA purposes. IAEA teams regularly inspect nuclear facilities all over the world to ensure that civilian There are those who feel that reactors are not being used for military purposes. Africa and South America must be represented in any expansion of the permanent membership since efforts is a long and substantial those are the only continents not one. The country’s economic to have representation in the emergence on the world stage is present structure. Given these another factor that perhaps concerns, it may not be very easy justifies India’s claim to a for India or anyone else to become permanent seat in the Security a permanent member of the UN in Council. India has also made the near future. regular financial contributions to the UN and never faltered on its payments. India is aware that THE UN IN A UNIPOLAR permanent membership of the Security Council also has WORLD symbolic importance. It signifies Among the concerns about the a country’s growing importance in reform and restructuring of the world affairs. This greater status UN has been the hope of some is an advantage to a country in countries that changes could help the conduct of its foreign policy: the UN cope better with a unipolar the reputation for being powerful word in which the US was the makes you more influential. most powerful country without Despite India’s wish to be a any serious rivals. Can the UN permanent veto-wielding member serve as a balance against US of the UN, some countries dominance? Can it help maintain question its inclusion. a dialogue between the rest of the Neighbouring Pakistan, with world and the US and prevent which India has troubled America from doing whatever it relations, is not the only country wants? that is reluctant to see India US power cannot be easily become a permanent veto member checked. First of all, with the What happens if the of the Security Council. Some disappearance of the Soviet UN invites someone to New York but the countries, for instance, are Union, the US stands as the only US does not issue concerned about India’s nuclear superpower. Its military and visa? weapons capabilities. Others economic power allow it to ignore International Organisations 95 the UN or any other international organisation. Secondly, within the UN, the influence of the US is considerable. As the single largest contributor to the UN, the US has unmatched financial power. The fact that the UN is physically located within the US territory gives Washington additional sources of influence. The US also has many nationals in the UN bureaucracy. In addition, with its veto power the US can stop any moves that it finds annoying or damaging to its interests or the interests of its friends and allies. The power of the US and its veto within the organisation also ensure that Washington has a considerable degree of say in the choice of the Secretary General of the UN. The US can and does use this power to “split” the rest of the world and to reduce opposition to its policies. The UN is not therefore a great © Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons Inc. balance to the US. Nevertheless, in a unipolar world in which the US is dominant, the UN can and has served to bring the US and Amnesty AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL the rest of the world into International discussions over various issues. Amnesty International is an NGO US leaders, in spite of their that campaigns for the frequent criticism of the UN, do protection of human rights all see the organisation as serving a over the world. It promotes respect for all the human rights in the Universal purpose in bringing together over Declaration of Human Rights. It believes that 190 nations in dealing with human rights are interdependent and indivisible. conflict and social and economic It prepares and publishes reports on human rights. development. As for the rest of the Governments are not always happy with these world, the UN provides an arena reports since a major focus of Amnesty is the in which it is possible to modify misconduct of government authorities. Nevertheless, these reports play an important role US attitudes and policies. While in research and advocacy on human rights. the rest of the world is rarely 96 Contemporary World Politics The UN is an imperfect body, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Human Rights Watch but without it the world would be Human Rights Watch is another worse off. Given the growing international NGO involved in connections and links between research and advocacy on societies and issues—what we human rights. It is the largest often call ‘interdependence’—it is international human rights hard to imagine how more than organisation in the US. It draws the global media’s attention to human rights abuses. It helped in seven billion people would live building international coalitions like the together without an organisation campaigns to ban landmines, to stop the use of such as the UN. Technology child soldiers and to establish the International promises to increase planetary Criminal Court. interdependence, and therefore the importance of the UN will only united against Washington, and increase. Peoples and govern- while it is virtually impossible to ments will have to find ways of “balance” US power, the UN does supporting and using the UN and provide a space within which other international organisations arguments against specific US in ways that are consistent with attitudes and policies are heard their own interests and the and compromises and interests of the international concessions can be shaped. community more broadly. Exercises 1. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the veto power. a. Only the permanent members of the Security Council possess the veto power. b. It’s a kind of negative power. c. The Secretary-General uses this power when not satisfied with any decision. d. One veto can stall a Security Council resolution. 2. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the way the UN functions. a. All security and peace related issues are dealt with in the Security Council. b. Humanitarian policies are implemented by the main organs and specialised agencies spread across the globe. c. Having consensus among the five permanent members on security issues is vital for its implementation. d. The members of the General Assembly are automatically the members of all other principal organs and specialised agencies of the UN. International Organisations 97 3. Which among the following would give more weightage to India’s proposal for permanent membership in the Security Council? a. Nuclear capability b. It has been a member of the UN since its inception c. It is located in Asia d. India’s growing economic power and stable political system 4. The UN agency concerned with the safety and peaceful use of E x e r c i s e s nuclear technology is: a. The UN Committee on Disarmament b. International Atomic Energy Agency c. UN International Safeguard Committee d. None of the above 5. WTO is serving as the successor to which of the following organisations a. General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs b. General Arrangement on Trade and Tariffs c. World Health Organisation d. UN Development Programme 6. Fill in the blanks. a. The prime objective of the UN is ___________________________ b. The highest functionary of the UN is called_________________ c. The UN Security Council has _____ permanent and _____non- permanent members. d. ______________________ is the present UN Secretary-General. 7. Match the principal organs and agencies of the UN with their functions: 1. Economic and Social Council 2. International Court of Justice 3. International Atomic Energy Agency 4. Security Council 5. UN High Commission for Refugees 6. World Trade Organisation 7. International Monetary Fund 8. General Assembly 9. World Health Organisation 10. Secretariat 98 Contemporary World Politics a. Oversees the global financial system b. Preservation of international peace and security c. Looks into the economic and social welfare of the member countries E x e r c i s e s d. Safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology e. Resolves disputes between and among member countries f. Provides shelter and medical help during emergencies g. Debates and discusses global issues h. Administration and coordination of UN affairs i. Providing good health for all j. Facilitates free trade among member countries 8. What are the functions of the Security Council? 9. As a citizen of India, how would you support India’s candidature for the permanent membership of the Security Council? Justify your proposal. 10. Critically evaluate the difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the UN. 11. Though the UN has failed in preventing wars and related miseries, nations prefer its continuation. What makes the UN an indispensable organisation? 12. ‘Reforming the UN means restructuring of the Security Council’. Do you agree with this statement? Give arguments for or against this position.