Essay on Role of the United NationsLength: 3 Pages 739 Words  Printer Friendly Version 1945 was a turning point in the earth's incredible history. The devastating war, which cost millions of lives, finally came to and end and the United Nations was formed to maintain good relations between countries. The United Nations has had a lasting impact on international relations since the day of its creation. First of all, the United Nations impacts the developing world, through different types of aides such as economic and medical. Secondly, the United Nations has a huge impact on the developed world; giving them stability and helping them maintain peace. Finally, the United Nations helps to develop the individual forms of individual freedom.First and foremost, the United Nations has an impact on the developing world. The developing world, receives much needed aid from the UN. For example, the United Nations provides the developing world with economic aid. The first goal of the United Nations is to reduce poverty and hunger; therefore, by providing economic aid to countries in serious need, they are moving forward to one of their many goals. The aid would be used to help supply more food, and try to help many of the people in that certain country has an opportunity at a job. The second goal of the United Nations is to achieve universal education. When dealing with developed countries the UN wants eThe Role of the United NationLength: 6 Pages 1623 Words  Printer Friendly Version THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AND ITS PLACE IN OUR FUTURE.The quote "Hence it follows that mankind lives best under a single government, and therefore that such a government is necessary for the well being of the world." Are basically the ideals that led to the establishment of the United Nations (UN) and its former organization the League of Nations. However the UN's role in world affairs must remain democratic and hold a universal mentality. This principle, people argue, seems to limit the United Nations in their role as the keeper of peace, while others believe that in many cases the UN lacks universality and holds a western view of democracy. It is outdated, unable to keep up with the ever-changing world. However the questions must be asked: Would the world have been better off without the United Nations? And what is to be the role of the United Nations in world politics in the future, if any?The UN was set up at the end of World War Two as the world leaders tried to prevent the tragedy of war from occurring again. Previously, an organisation called the League of Nations had existed, however, it had fallen apart due to disagreements among the member nations as to its true purpose, its inability to enforce its decisions and the fact that powerful nations such as the United States

of America, Germany, and Japan. (It has been noted that a great factor in the failure of the League of Nations was the 'winners' of the First World War founded it.) Many believe the failure of the League of Nations was one of the reasons why World War Two had occurred. The states realised that one major factor contributing to war is the lack of communication and cooperation between countries and their leaders. So it was decided to set up organisation so that nations could meet, talk and work out their problems to avoid disputes in the future. Thus UN was brought into existence as a forum for discussion for member states all around the world. The representatives of 51 countries at the UN conference drew up the UN charter on International Orginsation, which met from 25th April to 26th June 1945 . The charter 'mapped out' the rules, and that the UN hopes to achieve, the same charter is used today, guiding a much larger forum of 185 member nations.Bertrand Russell, in the late 1960's was quoted saying "Mankind will not reach the 21st century if some kind of world government is not established." In Russell's opinion the UN was not that world Government and that it lacked many qualities that could constitute it as a world government. Earlier the UN was mainly interested in establishing and promoting peace through discussion, a world government would do much more than that, such as attempt to eradicate poverty, improve world trade and oversee human rights matters. Is the UN moving towards world government? The answer could be 'YES', however does its structure allow for such a wide scope of international intervention?The UN is made up of six organs, the General Assembly (GA), the Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and the Secretariat. The GA consists of all members of the UN, each member has one vote and decisions and important questions are taken by a two-thirds vote, other less important matters on a simple majority. Its functions are discussion and recommendations, supervision, control of finances, election, admission of new member states, and the initial proposals for charter review and amendments. The GA's duty is extremely broad, and its discussion fairly extensive with resolutions having to be discussed, amendments altering resolutions, voting on the inclusion of certain amendments and finally the vote of the inclusion of the resolution. However the GA (as with the Security Council also) cannot re-enforce to administrate a resolution to individual member nations which has been passed in the GA. Therefore after extensive debate, a great deal of time, and large sums of money, a passed resolution fails in practice, and gives the impression of a weak GA, lacking in solidity.The Security Council (SC) is a small body of eleven members, the Republic of China, France, The Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have permanent membership, while six non-permanent member states are elected for two-year terms by the GA. The SC are the name suggests deals with issues of international security and stability, non permanent states are elected with special attention given to their contribution and maintenance of that

peace and security. Two major differences between the GA and the SC is that the SC is kept small in the interests of quick decision making. Also because of the magnitude of the decisions made in such a forum, voting majority is through power of veto. Which means it only takes one member to oppose a resolution, for it to fail. This tactic has been questioned in the past when the SC has been basically barred from any decision making. An example of this is duing the cold war, when the USSR would oppose any USA resolution and visa versa, the only issue of security that was passed duing this time, that the UN involvement in Korea. However this only came about while the USSR was boycotting the UN.In answering the question of the relevance of the UN today, we must look at the role of the media in depicting the UN, and the real issues the UN have been addressing. "An angry debate in the General Assembly...a veto cast in the Security Council...an Arab leader wearing a pistol to the speakers platform ...power struggles between nations...disagreements between word games." This is the UN the media has shown the world. However, what we seldom see are the achievements of the UN such as "Maintaining peace and security... promoting democracy...prevention nuclear proliferation... Eradication smallpox...reducing child mortality rates....clearing landmines...Empowering the voiceless."All these issues show that the United Nations is playing a very important role in the world, and the world in benefiting greatly from its existence. Therefore it must be argued that the UN is not truly outdated, but the media, in many ways assumes this position, and uses some of the UN's disappointments to signify this.Also advocates of the UN believe that without such an organisation, although it has problems the world would be a totally different place, Einstein, in 1947 said "There are only two alternatives for mankind: world government or nuclear holocaust." The UN has done much for the world, such as peacekeeping and cooperation, introduced nuclear non-proliferation, humanitarian aid (from UN organisation such as WHO and UNICEF), encourages the removal of trade barriers, reducing international crime and promotion democracy peacefully. As these improvements to the world suggest, the UN had greatly benefited nations, not only with peace keeping, but also with maintaining the general well being of states.Granting that the UN record has been great, it cannot be denied that in many respects it has been inadequate in the needs of today. In a world where science had made mass destruction, and global ruin simple through atomic devices, it is vital the world has a body that will avoid conflict, and stop nuclear warfare. In many cases, when nuclear warfare looked possible, the UN could do little to prevent it, and it was the aggressors themselves that had the power. This is due to the UN's main weakness: it lacks sufficient authority. As is it an organisation of sovereign states, it can only do what its members are willing to support.

Diverse interests incomparable beliefs and misunderstood cultures create a large scope of opinion with little to agree on. A world government requires the existence of a world community, and if such a unity did exit, the UN would be much better off. It is vital that the member states adopt different attitudes towards the UN. They must understand that the UN is for the good of the world, and individual states should try and follow UN charter for the good of their nation. Secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold was quoted as saying that "...best safeguard for the future would be a national policy directed to harmonize with the general desires and ideals common to all mankind...and closely identify with the primary and vital interests of a majority, or as many possible of the other nations."As mentioned, faced with weaknesses the UN's future is uncertain. However the UN does not claim to be an organisation without change. UN reform will be the device that will allow the UN to continue, it has shown a great capacity for development. For example the GA had taken a great deal of responsibility from the SC, making resolutions easier to pass without the veto power. Also the International Court of Justice should become more active in settling disputes of international law and conflict, taking the pressure of other organizations of the UN.Referring back to the original questions: It is clear that the world has been better off with the United Nation. Although reform may be necessary, its role is not outdated, and its position in world politics relatively strong. The UN does have a future in governing the international arena, however it must become more dominant in important issues and show that even more today that it is a body that warrants respect and through respect nations will benefit.