UN Lecture Notes

United Nations OverviewWorld History – Neilson

Forerunner

• Post WWI League of Nations• 1919: Treaty of Versailles• Woodrow Wilson’s vision to

“Promote cooperation and achieve peace and security.”

• 3 reasons it failed1. No U.S.2. USSR Non-Committal3. No “teeth”

United Nations Founding

• 1944: US, UK, China, Soviet Union – early proposals

• 1945, San Francisco: 51 countries create charter

• UN Day: October 24

Membership

• Member? Accept obligations of UN Charter• 1945: 50 members sign + Poland• 1949: 59 (Israel)• 1956: 80 (Japan)• 1960: 99 (16 in Africa)• 1971: 132 (5 in Middle East)• 1977: 149 (Viet Nam)• 1992: 179 (former Soviet states)• 2006: 192 (Montenegro)• Who’s not in the United Nations?

United Nations Purpose

1. The UN was created to maintain international peace and security.2. It also works to maintain friendly relationships between countries.3. Lastly, it works to promote economic development of member nations.

• 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights• What did it say?

UN Principles

• Sovereign equality of all members.

• Fulfill obligations of charter – assistance.

• Settle disputes peacefully.

• Refrain from threat or use of force.

• No domestic interference.

UN World Headquarters:New York City

General Assembly

• All members: one seat, one vote

• Sept-Dec

• Decision Making• Want Consensus• Settle for vote (majority or 2/3)

Security Council

• Anytime peace threatened• 15 members

• 5 Permanent• 10: 2-year terms

• 9/15 vote• “Permanent” Veto

• Why?

The “UN System”

• 6 main committees

• 30 affiliated organizations (IMF, World Bank, WHO)

• 9000 employees

• Secretariat

• Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Republic of Korea

World Health Organization

• Coordinating authority on world public health.

• Monitors outbreaks of infectious disease.

• Supports development, distribution of drugs, vaccines, diagnostics.

• Smallpox gone; polio soon?• Current: AIDS, malaria.

Unicef – UN Children’s Fund

• Research, Advocacy• Shelter, Healthcare, Education• Protection from abuse, violence,

exploitation• 1989 Convention on the Rights

of the Child

UNESCO –UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization • Dialogue: relationships peace.• Education: K-5 for all, gender

equity.• Science: water for all,

sustainable development, alleviate poverty.

• Culture: respect diversity, access to information, freedom of expression.

UNHCR –UN Refugee Agency

• Refugee – Driven from country for economic or political reasons.

• Internally Displaced Person• Emergency Response

• Protection• Asylum

• Advocacy – Resolve economic, political issues so refugees can return home.

IAEA – Atomic Energy Agency

• Safety/Security – Help nations upgrade, address emergencies.

• Science/Technology – Develop peaceful applications.

• Safeguards/ Verification – Inspectors verify no nuclear weapons.

WTO – World Trade Organization

• Promotes free trade• Mediates trade fights• 150 in; 32 want in.• Criticisms

• Developing nations need protections.

• Big economies dominate agreements.

• Labor and environment standards suffer.

IMF – International Monetary Fund

• Stable exchange rates• Emergency loans to nations to

pay bills.• Financial reforms to fix deficits,

inflation, etc.• Criticisms

• Reforms fail.• “Loan Addicts”• Reactive, not Proactive

World Bank

• Development loans for infrastructure, health, education, agriculture.

• Low loan rates, terms.• Technical Assistance.• Criticisms

• Tool of U.S. 85/16• Multinational corporations

benefit?• Past loans to dictators.

Carrots• Ceasefire and/or truce.• Peacekeepers to separate warring parties.• Mediation: Negotiate peace plans.• “Safe areas” and humanitarian relief.• Financial Assistance.

Sticks• Political Sanctions:

No participation.• Economic Sanctions:

Restricted trade, loans.

• Military Sanctions: Investigations and criminal tribunals.

“No Fly” Zone.Endorse

military intervention.