INTL 101: INTRODUCTION TO INTL 101: INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL POLITICSGLOBAL POLITICS

Week 11Week 11

Is the United Nations Is the United Nations Fundamentally FlawedFundamentally Flawed??

Week 11Week 11

LECTURE CONTENTLECTURE CONTENT

1. Background information and some 1. Background information and some facts about the UNfacts about the UN

2. 2. Argument Argument in favourin favour of the view of the view that the UN is fundamentally flawed that the UN is fundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reformand needs an extensive reform

3. 3. Argument Argument againstagainst the view that the the view that the UN is fundamentally flawed UN is fundamentally flawed

What is the United Nations?What is the United Nations? UNUN – The world’s largest international organization was – The world’s largest international organization was

founded in 1945 in San Francisco by 51 states. It was the founded in 1945 in San Francisco by 51 states. It was the successor to the League of Nations which was founded at successor to the League of Nations which was founded at the end of the First World War in 1919 but had failed to the end of the First World War in 1919 but had failed to effectively counter aggression in the 1930s. effectively counter aggression in the 1930s.

Like the League of Nations, the UN was founded to maintain Like the League of Nations, the UN was founded to maintain

peace and security at the global scale, to increase peace and security at the global scale, to increase international order and the rule of law to prevent armed international order and the rule of law to prevent armed conflicts. Over the last six decades, the organization’s conflicts. Over the last six decades, the organization’s membership structure and capacity dramatically increased membership structure and capacity dramatically increased and today the UN has 191 member states with its main and today the UN has 191 member states with its main headquarters in New York city. headquarters in New York city.

Main Bodies of the UNMain Bodies of the UN

The Security CouncilThe Security Council – is – is responsible for maintaining peace responsible for maintaining peace and security, and for restoring peace and security, and for restoring peace when it breaks down. Its decisions when it breaks down. Its decisions are binding on all UN member states. are binding on all UN member states. In the last 60 years, the Security In the last 60 years, the Security Council has passed over 1,400 Council has passed over 1,400 resolutions, with new ones being resolutions, with new ones being added each week. added each week.

The Security CouncilThe Security Council

The Security Council has 15 members in total. 5 of The Security Council has 15 members in total. 5 of them are them are permanentpermanent members and they have the members and they have the veto power. These are the United States, Britain, veto power. These are the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. France, Russia and China.

The Council also has 10 The Council also has 10 non-permanentnon-permanent (temporary) members who rotate every 2 years. (temporary) members who rotate every 2 years. Non-permanent members are elected (5 each year) Non-permanent members are elected (5 each year) by the General Assembly. by the General Assembly.

The Council’s The Council’s chairpersonchairperson rotates among the rotates among the Council members monthly.Council members monthly.

The General AssemblyThe General Assembly

The General Assembly is like a world The General Assembly is like a world forum and is made up of all 191 member forum and is made up of all 191 member states of the UN, each with one vote. states of the UN, each with one vote.

It usually meets every year, from late It usually meets every year, from late September through January, in plenary September through January, in plenary sessions. Heads of the states or foreign sessions. Heads of the states or foreign ministers generally come through one by ministers generally come through one by one to address the General Assembly. one to address the General Assembly.

The SecretariatThe Secretariat

The Secretariat of the UN is its executive The Secretariat of the UN is its executive branch, headed by the secretary-general. branch, headed by the secretary-general. It is a bureaucratic structure for It is a bureaucratic structure for administering UN policy and programs. administering UN policy and programs.

The secretary-general of the UN is the The secretary-general of the UN is the closest thing to a “president of the world” closest thing to a “president of the world” that exists and in security matters, the that exists and in security matters, the secretary-general personally works with secretary-general personally works with the Security Council. the Security Council.

UN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General

The secretary-general is The secretary-general is nominated by the Security Council nominated by the Security Council who requires the consent of all who requires the consent of all five permanent members and five permanent members and must be approved by the General must be approved by the General Assembly. The term of office is Assembly. The term of office is five years and may be renewed. five years and may be renewed.

The current UN Secretary-General The current UN Secretary-General since 1996 is Kofi Annan from since 1996 is Kofi Annan from Ghana and by the end of 2006, he Ghana and by the end of 2006, he will be replaced by Ban Ki-Moon will be replaced by Ban Ki-Moon who is the former minister of who is the former minister of foreign affairs of South Korea.foreign affairs of South Korea.

Kofi Annan has been the first to Kofi Annan has been the first to

rise through the UN bureaucracy rise through the UN bureaucracy to the top position. He has also to the top position. He has also been the first UN Secretary-been the first UN Secretary-General who served for two General who served for two consecutive terms. consecutive terms.

UN Programs and Autonomous AgenciesUN Programs and Autonomous Agencies

All around the world, the UN runs a high number All around the world, the UN runs a high number of programs and has many autonomous agencies, of programs and has many autonomous agencies, each of them having a specialized field of work each of them having a specialized field of work and expertise. and expertise.

Most prominent examples are UNICEF (UN Most prominent examples are UNICEF (UN International Children’s Emergency Fund), UNHCR International Children’s Emergency Fund), UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), UNDP (UN (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), UNDP (UN Development Program), UNEP (UN Environment Development Program), UNEP (UN Environment Program), WHO (World Health Organization), FAO Program), WHO (World Health Organization), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), ILO (Food and Agriculture Organization), ILO (International Labour Organization), UNESCO (UN (International Labour Organization), UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Argument Argument in in favorfavor of the view that the UN is of the view that the UN is fundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reform fundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reform

Brett D. SchaeferBrett D. Schaefer, from The , from The Heritage Foundation, contends that Heritage Foundation, contends that the UN is not doing as well as it the UN is not doing as well as it should in championing the principles should in championing the principles set forth in its charter and that, set forth in its charter and that, therefore, a fundamental UN reform therefore, a fundamental UN reform is required. is required.

Argument Argument in in favorfavor of the view that the UN is of the view that the UN is fundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reformfundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reform

To justify his point of view, Schaefer makes references to To justify his point of view, Schaefer makes references to some facts saying that despite the UN’s continued efforts, some facts saying that despite the UN’s continued efforts, military conflicts as well as other sorts of violence did not military conflicts as well as other sorts of violence did not stop and there have been nearly 300 wars since 1945 and stop and there have been nearly 300 wars since 1945 and over 22 million deaths resulted from these wars over 22 million deaths resulted from these wars ..

For Schaefer, the most urgent threat to international peace For Schaefer, the most urgent threat to international peace

and security today is terrorismand security today is terrorism.. However, the UN cannot However, the UN cannot even agree upon a definition for terrorism – in large part even agree upon a definition for terrorism – in large part because it counts terror-sponsoring states among its because it counts terror-sponsoring states among its membership. Moreover, The UN counts the world’s leading membership. Moreover, The UN counts the world’s leading human rights violators and repressive governments among human rights violators and repressive governments among its memberhip. Even worse is that those members are its memberhip. Even worse is that those members are disproportionately represented among the 53 countries disproportionately represented among the 53 countries elected to the UN Commission on Human Rights with Libya elected to the UN Commission on Human Rights with Libya serving as chairman recently. serving as chairman recently.

..

Argument Argument in in favorfavor of the view that the UN is of the view that the UN is fundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reformfundamentally flawed and needs an extensive reform

Schaefer argues that amending the UN Charter is a very Schaefer argues that amending the UN Charter is a very difficult process and this also makes the UN less efficient difficult process and this also makes the UN less efficient and therefore requiring reform. and therefore requiring reform.

He also thinks that those countries which contribute to the He also thinks that those countries which contribute to the UN budget with high figures should have more say in the UN budget with high figures should have more say in the decision-making mechanismsdecision-making mechanisms..

He further argues that giving one vote to each member He further argues that giving one vote to each member state in the General Assembly is not a good and fair state in the General Assembly is not a good and fair system. He asks “how can the tiny country of Tuvalu and a system. He asks “how can the tiny country of Tuvalu and a superpower , like the United States, both have one vote?”superpower , like the United States, both have one vote?”

Argument Argument againstagainst the view that the UN is the view that the UN is

fundamentally flawedfundamentally flawed

Mary Robinson, the UN high Mary Robinson, the UN high commissioner for human rights, and commissioner for human rights, and the former president of Ireland, the former president of Ireland, argues that despite all the United argues that despite all the United Nations’ shortcomings and criticism, Nations’ shortcomings and criticism, the UN is as relevant as it was when the UN is as relevant as it was when created in 1945. created in 1945.

Argument Argument againstagainst the view that the UN is the view that the UN is

fundamentally flawedfundamentally flawed

Robinson thinks that rather than the need for a Robinson thinks that rather than the need for a fundamental reform in the UN, it is significant to fundamental reform in the UN, it is significant to observe that the organization has an international observe that the organization has an international legitimacy problem. legitimacy problem.

She says that she found great skepticism in which She says that she found great skepticism in which the people viewed UN resolutions, declarations the people viewed UN resolutions, declarations and treaties as commitments that are routinely and treaties as commitments that are routinely ignored by governments or worse still, selectively ignored by governments or worse still, selectively implemented to benefit the strong at the implemented to benefit the strong at the exclusion of the weak. exclusion of the weak.

Argument Argument againstagainst the view that the UN is the view that the UN is fundamentally flawedfundamentally flawed

- For Robinson, large masses of people in various For Robinson, large masses of people in various parts of the world felt that all the fine words about parts of the world felt that all the fine words about protecting human rights, eliminating poverty and protecting human rights, eliminating poverty and ensuring sustainable development were only ensuring sustainable development were only paper paper promisespromises and that the UN was unable to hold its and that the UN was unable to hold its member states accountable for the commitments member states accountable for the commitments they had made. they had made.

- Therefore, a key challenge for the UN is to find new Therefore, a key challenge for the UN is to find new and innovative ways of developing greater and innovative ways of developing greater accountability for the decisions its member states accountability for the decisions its member states make. This is a process which also requires a make. This is a process which also requires a greater involvement of civil society in the work of greater involvement of civil society in the work of the organization despite the fact that the global civil the organization despite the fact that the global civil society movement today faces strong criticisms. society movement today faces strong criticisms.

Argument Argument againstagainst the view that the UN is the view that the UN is fundamentally flawedfundamentally flawed

For Robinson, one way of achieving a more efficient UN with For Robinson, one way of achieving a more efficient UN with an improved image is through being aware of the fact that an improved image is through being aware of the fact that humanitarian action cannot and must not be an extension humanitarian action cannot and must not be an extension of a political or military struggle. of a political or military struggle.

It must be ensured that the UN retains the right and the It must be ensured that the UN retains the right and the ability to reach all those in need regardless of race, religion ability to reach all those in need regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. She urges the UN system to recognize or political affiliation. She urges the UN system to recognize that defending space for NGOs is vital for defending its own that defending space for NGOs is vital for defending its own future. future.

While concluding, Mary Robinson reminds us Eleanor While concluding, Mary Robinson reminds us Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous words about who says that “without Roosevelt’s famous words about who says that “without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world”.shall look in vain for progress in the larger world”.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION Evaluating the United Nations and its performance six Evaluating the United Nations and its performance six

decades after its foundation seems to be a multi-decades after its foundation seems to be a multi-dimensional task which requires a well-informed analysis dimensional task which requires a well-informed analysis and attention. It is probably also a matter of whether a and attention. It is probably also a matter of whether a glass is half full or half empty. glass is half full or half empty.

Undoubtedly, the UN has not come anywhere near Undoubtedly, the UN has not come anywhere near achieving the great goals set out in its Charter. By this achieving the great goals set out in its Charter. By this criterion, the evaluative glass is at least half empty. criterion, the evaluative glass is at least half empty. However, it can also be rightly said that the UN has However, it can also be rightly said that the UN has accomplished a great deal. Several UN peacekeeping accomplished a great deal. Several UN peacekeeping operations have been fielded and some of them have made operations have been fielded and some of them have made an important contribution. an important contribution.

In spite of all the deprivations that remain, there is greater In spite of all the deprivations that remain, there is greater justice and better living conditions in the world now than justice and better living conditions in the world now than existed a few decades ago. existed a few decades ago.