The United The United NationsNations

Social 30Social 30

Genesis 11:1-9Genesis 11:1-9

God originated God originated nations and nations and languages to keep languages to keep man scattered.man scattered.

Two DirectionsTwo Directions In a sense, the course of world went In a sense, the course of world went

in two directions following the in two directions following the Second World War:Second World War:

InternationalismInternationalism the United Nations the United Nations

NationalismNationalism the Cold War the Cold War

Creation of the UNCreation of the UN The first commitment to create a new organization came in The first commitment to create a new organization came in

1941, when U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt and British 1941, when U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt and British prime minister Winston Churchill announced the Atlantic prime minister Winston Churchill announced the Atlantic Charter, in which they pledged to work toward a more Charter, in which they pledged to work toward a more effective system to keep world peace and promote cooperation. effective system to keep world peace and promote cooperation.

The USA, USSR, UK and China met in 1944 at the Dumbarton The USA, USSR, UK and China met in 1944 at the Dumbarton Oaks estate in Washington, D.C., and drafted a charter for the Oaks estate in Washington, D.C., and drafted a charter for the new organization. They called the new league the United new organization. They called the new league the United Nations. But they still could not agree to certain details, such Nations. But they still could not agree to certain details, such as membership and voting rights. as membership and voting rights.

The four countries met again in early 1945 at a summit in The four countries met again in early 1945 at a summit in Yalta, Ukraine. There, they settled their differences and called Yalta, Ukraine. There, they settled their differences and called for a conference of nations to complete their work. On April for a conference of nations to complete their work. On April 25, 1945, the United Nations Conference on International 25, 1945, the United Nations Conference on International Organization convened in San Francisco. The delegates Organization convened in San Francisco. The delegates worked for two months to complete a charter for the UN that worked for two months to complete a charter for the UN that included its purpose, principles, and organizational structure.included its purpose, principles, and organizational structure.

Pre-UN, but importantPre-UN, but important As an aside, Western-world leaders As an aside, Western-world leaders

also met at Bretton Woods to set also met at Bretton Woods to set direction for the post-war financial direction for the post-war financial world.world.

Out of the meetings at Bretton Woods Out of the meetings at Bretton Woods came the GATT and IMF, and came the GATT and IMF, and establishment of the gold standardestablishment of the gold standard

(we will talk about Bretton Woods (we will talk about Bretton Woods again)again)

Fact Sheet—UNFact Sheet—UN Established 1945Established 1945 Headquarters in New York, NYHeadquarters in New York, NY Successor to the League of NationsSuccessor to the League of Nations AimAim to preserve collective peace and to preserve collective peace and

security and to deal with the economic, security and to deal with the economic, social and cultural problems of the worldsocial and cultural problems of the world

Does have access to a military forceDoes have access to a military force USA and USSR or dominant playersUSA and USSR or dominant players

Purpose and Principles Purpose and Principles of the UNof the UN PurposesPurposes

maintain international peace and security, and to that maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace; a breach of the peace;

develop friendly relations among nations based on develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoplesdetermination of peoples

To achieve international co-operation in solving To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and race, sex, language, or religion; and

To be a centre for harmonizing the actions To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these of nations in the attainment of these common ends. common ends.

PrinciplesPrinciples

sovereign equality of all its Members. sovereign equality of all its Members. All Members shall settle their international All Members shall settle their international

disputes by peaceful means in such a disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. security, and justice, are not endangered.

All Members shall refrain in their All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any stateor political independence of any state

OrganizationOrganization

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly Includes all member nationsIncludes all member nations Meets once a yearMeets once a year Lots of discussionLots of discussion Often needs 2/3 of representatives to override SCOften needs 2/3 of representatives to override SC

Security CouncilSecurity Council Most powerful organ (maybe)Most powerful organ (maybe) Maintains peace and securityMaintains peace and security Five permanent members, each has a Five permanent members, each has a vetoveto

ChinaChina FranceFrance Great BritainGreat Britain USAUSA USSR (Russia)USSR (Russia)

Ten elected, rotating membersTen elected, rotating members

Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council Specialized agenciesSpecialized agencies Initiates programs to prevent famine Initiates programs to prevent famine

and disease across the world.and disease across the world. Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council

Responsible for UN Trust TerritoriesResponsible for UN Trust Territories All 11 of the original trust territories All 11 of the original trust territories

have achieved self-government.have achieved self-government.

SecretariatSecretariat Administrative branch of UNAdministrative branch of UN Considerable executive power and political Considerable executive power and political

influenceinfluence Power to set agendas and call meetingsPower to set agendas and call meetings

The International Court of Justice (World The International Court of Justice (World Court)Court) Judicial armJudicial arm Only nation-sates can bring cases to this courtOnly nation-sates can bring cases to this court Can rule on interpretations of UN CharterCan rule on interpretations of UN Charter This is different than the International This is different than the International

Criminal CourtCriminal Court

Peacekeeping and Peacekeeping and PeacemakingPeacemaking

PeacekeepingPeacekeeping Africa Africa MINURCAT UNAMID UNMIS UNOCI UNMIL MONUC UNMEE MINURSO AmericasAmericas MINUSTAH

Asia and the PacificAsia and the Pacific UNMIT UNMIT UNMOGIP UNMOGIP EuropeEurope UNFICYP UNFICYP UNOMIG UNOMIG UNMIK UNMIK Middle EastMiddle East UNDOF UNDOF UNIFIL UNIFIL UNTSOUNTSO

Cooperation versus Cooperation versus ConflictConflict

For brief discussion:For brief discussion: What are the pros and cons of both What are the pros and cons of both

cooperation and conflict?cooperation and conflict?

the United Nations the United Nations "has failed to "has failed to contain contain aggression, failed aggression, failed to stop to stop proliferation, and proliferation, and failed to prevent failed to prevent genocide." genocide."

-Mitt Romney-Mitt Romney

SS#11-4&7SS#39-2