The UN

• The United Nations

  The most important IGO, created in 1945 to promote cooperation and avoid another such conflict. 
• The Security Council

  The UN’s most important and powerful body, primarily concerned with issues of international conflict and global security. 
• “We the people of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”
• UN General Assembly

  • UN’s parliament, providing forum for all 193 members 
  • Debates issues on security and diplomacy
  • Annual meeting held in NYC (NGOs can attend)
  • Elects non-permanent members of UNSC
  • Appoints the Secretary General
  • Considers debates and reports from ECOSOC, ICJ and committees (enabling action on key single issues)
  • Approves UN budget
  • Elects judges to ICJ
• UN Security Council

  • x5 permanent members with power of veto
  • USA, China, Russia, Britain and France
  • x10 non-permanent members elected on 2-year terms
  • Resolutions require no vetoes and 2/3 majority vote, ensuring all members are important
  • Most powerful branch and executive committee
  • Supreme decision-making body for dealing with crises
  • Powers; create resolutions that are binding in international law; impose economic sanctions; authorise military action
• From 2006-2015 UNSC sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table, paving the way for Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal
• • Since 1948 there have been 69 peacekeeping missions authorised by UNSC (under Chapter 6) and other successful sanctions
• UN Secretary General

  • UN spokesperson with authority recognised by member states
  • Sets UN agenda
  • 5-year term, appointed by UNGA
  • Represents the interests of UN (not particular individual states)
  • Annan powerless to stop US led invasion of Iraq, Guterres met Putin in Moscow but Ukrainian War continues (although humanitarian corridors were briefly opened)
• UN Membership

  • 2017: 193 member states, remains to this day
  • 2011: South Sudan as newest member
  • Direct link between being recognised as an independent nation-state and becoming a UN member state
  • Non-member observer status given to Palestine and Vatican
  • Palestine granted status in 2012 by UNGA
• Article 1 of the UN Charter:

  • To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace
  • To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples
  • promoting and encouraging respect for human rights
• Article 2 of the UN Charter:

  • The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members
  • All Members shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter
  • All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means
• Key info for the UN

  • Founded in 1945
  • Context of WW2 and failings of the League Of Nations -  new body needed to maintain peace and stability
  • HQ in NYC
• Key objectives of the UN

  • to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
  • to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
  • to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
  • to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”
• The UN Charter

  Article 1

  • To maintain international peace and security,
  • To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples
  • promoting and encouraging respect for human rights

  Article 2

  • The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members
  • All Members shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter
  • All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means
• Membership of the UN

  • 2017: 193 member states, remains to this day
  • 2011: South Sudan as newest member
  • Direct link between being recognised as an independent nation-state and becoming a UN member state
  • Non-member observer status given to Palestine and Vatican
  • Palestine granted status in 2012 by UNGA
• UN Secretary General

  • UN spokesperson with authority recognised by member states
  • Sets UN agenda
  • 5-year term, appointed by UNGA
  • Represents the interests of UN (not particular individual states)
  • Annan powerless to stop US led invasion of Iraq, Guterres met Putin in Moscow but Ukrainian War continues (although humanitarian corridors were briefly opened)
• UN General Assembly

  • UN’s parliament providing forum for all 193 members 
  • Debates issues on security and diplomacy
  • Annual meeting held in NYC (NGOs can attend)
  • Elects non-permanent members of UNSC
  • Appoints the Secretary General
  • Considers debates and reports from ECOSOC, ICJ and committees (enabling action on key single issues)
  • Approves UN budget
  • Elects judges to ICJ
• Members of the UNSC

  • x5 permanent members with power of veto
  • USA, China, Russia, Britain and France
  • x10 non-permanent members elected on 2-year terms
  • Resolutions require no vetoes and 2/3 majority vote, ensuring all members are important
• Powers of the UNSC

  • Most powerful branch and executive committee
  • Supreme decision-making body for dealing with crises
  • Powers; create resolutions that are binding in international law; impose economic sanctions; authorise military action
• UNSC Achievements

  • 2006-2015 UNSC sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table, paving the way for Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal
  • Since 1948 there have been 69 peacekeeping missions authorised by UNSC (under Chapter 6) and other successful sanctions
• • The UNSC and the Syrian Civil War
  • UNSC Resolution 2118 created a comprehensive process to end the use of chemical weapons (yet barrel bombing continued)
  • UNSC Resolution 2253 condemned ISIS and al-Qaeda and froze bank accounts and assets