Chapter 6 - World Politics
International Organisation
United Nations and its Organs
Why do we need an International Organisation ?
● To build up a durable structure of Peace and Security.- Main purpose of UNO
is to maintain peace and harmony between the nations and avoid war
situation or crisis.Negotiation and peaceful settlement of issues are the ways
adopted by UNO.
● Resolving, Social , Economic and Global Crisis. : UNO aims to solve global and
humanitarian crisis , and also offers assistance to the nations suffering from
issues like poverty, hunger, economic crisis, food crisis.
● Focus on Developing Friendly relations among the nations.
● Promote and encourage human rights and Dignity .
ROLE OF UNITED NATIONS
“The United Nations was not created to take humanity to heaven, but to save it
from hell.” — Dag Hammarskjold, the UN’s second Secretary-General.
“Talking shop? Yes, there are a lot of speeches and meetings at the U.N.,
especially during the annual sessions of the General Assembly. But as Churchill
put it, jaw-jaw is better than war-war. Isn’t it better to have one place where all…
countries in the world can get together, bore each other sometimes with their
words rather than bore holes into each other on the battlefield?” — Shashi
Tharoor, the former UN Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public
Information.
EVOLUTION OF UNITED NATIONS
26 Allied nations, which 1945- Big 3 S -Yalta
Atlantic Charter Tehran Conference
were against Axis power
1941 August - Signed -UN Declaration 1943-US, UK,USSR Conference
June
Oct 24- UN 26-1945-Signing UN
FOUNDED Charter
UN MEMBERSHIP -FROM 51 TO 193
● IN 1945- UN had 51 member nation states.
● By september 2002- 191 members- as Switzerland and East Timor Joined.
● By 2006 - 192 members
● By 2011- 193 member states
Security Council
General Assembly 5 Permanent
All 193 members of UN members.
are represented in GA. Principal Organs 10 non permanent
members
All nations have one vote. Settles disputes and
Discuss and negotiate on maintain law and
various issues. peace.
Elects non permanent Has veto
members of SC and ESOC
Secretariat
Headed By
Trusteeship Council Secretary General -
Administration of 11
Carries out
non sovereign Economic and International Court
substantive and
states . Social Council of Justice.
admin work.
Abolished in 1994. 54 - seats based on 15 judges - 9 years-
geographical by GA and UNSC.
representation. Settles legal and
Economic and international
social development. disputes.
Role of UNO in Cold War Era -
● Role of United Nations in Cold war era was limited , as it more became a tool
in the hands of the superpower.
● Although UN mediated through peacekeeping forces , but was unable to exert
much influence in worldly domains.
● The UNSC was deadlocked between the two superpowers- USA and USSR.
● Results remained pending due to the misuse of Vetos
Post Cold war Changes
● USSR - Soviet Union Collapsed.
● Domination and Hegemony of United States over world affairs.
● Growing cooperation between Russia and USA
● China and India emerging as Global players.
● Economic development in Asian countries.
● Joining of Sovereign states -INCREASE in membership.
● Global issues and threats ( Traditional and Modern)
Reforms in United Nations
Post Cold War Era created the need for reforms
Reforms of the structure ,i.e making UNSC more representative & Reforms of
Process -Question over VETO .
Review of issues related to jurisdiction of UNO.
1. Reform of Structure and Processes.
● Why reforms? Does UNSC represents contemporary reality?
● Is it biased or based on the equitable representation of world major nations?
3 majors issues -- Why we need reforms.?
❏ Membership has increased over the years, why permanent membership is
limited to 5 countries.
❏ Far away from world realities - in a multipolar world.
❏ Its decisions are influenced and reflects only western domination.
Question of Veto - It is a privilege only enjoyed by western nations and 3rd
World nations are not given due importance.
How reforms can be Initiated?
❏ An enquiry into the matter was set up and in 1997 , a proposal was given on
how membership can be increased.
Who can be a member of UNSC?
➢ Major economic and military power.
➢ Must reflect geopolitics ,i.e - must be populated country.
➢ Substantial contributor to UNO.
➢ Must respect human rights and democracy.
➢ Diverse in culture,geography and economic systems.
● Two models were suggested in 2007 to reforms ...but question of veto
remained unanswered.
Challenges to reform the UNSC …..
1. Excessive use of veto. - Negative veto is used by many nations to prevent
entering of western supporting nation and vice versa.Resolving veto has been
impossible.
2. No agreement on criteria suggested in the proposal, as it has both utility and
shortcomings eg: what should be criteria of military strength or
population--for some it might be disadvantage or liability.
3. Conflicts and animosity between the non permanent or general members of
UNO.
REFORMS IN JURISDICTION - RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS
ON completion of 60 years of UN establishment, head of all member states met in
2005 to celebrate its anniversary to review the situation and extends its area of
concern and work.
❏ Creation of peacebuilding commission.
❏ Protection of citizens from atrocities of government.
❏ Establishment of Human Rights Commission
❏ Agreement to achieve millenium development goals
❏ Countering terrorism
❏ Creation of democracy funds
❏ An agreement to windup trusteeship council.
UN VS US - Does US have hegemony over UN ?
★ After disintegration of USSR, US power remains unchecked.
★ Major military and economic power .
★ Single largest contributor to UN.
★ Physical location of UN in USA territory - Headquarters.
★ Bureaucracy of UN is dominated by US officials.
★ US veto.
★ US uses policy of split to reduce policies of the world.
Is UN relevant ? What makes it indispensable?
● Offers a platform for discussion on global issues.
● Helped countries to achieve independence .
● It protect human rights of citizens of big and small nations.
● UN Peacekeeping forces have mediated and soften the crisis.
● Reduced negatives of globalisation.
● Provide welfare in terms of socio economic welfare activities.
● Setup SDGs to fight against environmental and humanitarian crisis.
UNESCO
UNESCO -
● The United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was
established on 4 November 1946. With its
headquarter in Paris, France, UNESCO is a
special body of the United Nations whose
main objective is to promote education,
natural science, society and anthropology,
culture and communication.
● The special work done by UNESCO has been
to promote literacy, technical and educational
training and independent media etc. all across
its member nations.
UNICEF
UNICEF -United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
● The United Nations International Children's Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946 by the United
Nations General Assembly as a body whose main task
was to collect emergency funds for children and to help
in their development work all across the world.
● Apart from this, UNICEF helps and encourages the
works that promote children's health and better life in all
parts of the world.
● With its headquarters in New York, United States,
UNICEF has been working successfully in almost all 193
countries of the world.
ILO
1) IL0- International Labour Organisation.
● The International Labor Organization (ILO),
founded in October 1919 with its headquarter
in Geneva, Switzerland, is a body of the
United Nations which aims to promote
efficient conditions of social justice and
work for workers through international labor
standards at the global level.
● In addition, there is an incentive for women
and male workers to engage in productive
work and to create safety, parity and
self-respectful conditions for them at the
workplace.
WHO
● WHO is the United Nations agency that connects
nations, partners and people to promote health, keep
the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone,
everywhere can attain the highest level of health.
● Founded in 1948, Geneva, Switzerland.
● WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health
coverage. We direct and coordinate the world’s
response to health emergencies. And we promote
healthier lives – from pregnancy care through old age.
Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for
the world to achieve good health for all, using
science-based policies and programmes.
WTO
WTO - World Trade Organisation.
● It was established in 1995 with 164
members.
● Set up the rules for the global trade.
● Member states make unanimous
decisions on trade policies.
● The interest and policies made by
member states are influenced by
economically powerful countries.
● Geneva - Switzerland
WORLD BANK
World Bank
● It was created during the 2nd world war.
● More focus was on developing countries.
● Human development is one of its main
works. It also looks into the human
development sectors like health and
education.
● It also provides loans to the member state .
● It exercises and regulates economic
policies.
● Washington DC, USA
● 1944
IMF
IMF - INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND-
● It is an organisation of 183 countries.
● Secure financial stability in the world
● Facilitate International Trade among member
states
● Ensures Sustainable Economic growth in
member states.
● Works on poverty alleviation in
underdeveloped and developing nations.
● It also looks into the system of exchange rates
and provides loans to member states in times
of crisis.
● Stabilize currencies.
● Headquarters- Washington DC
● 1944 FOUNDED
IAEA
IAEA - International Atomic Energy
Agency
● Promotes peaceful use of
nuclear energy.
● Inspect nuclear facilities all
over the world.
● 1957, Vienna Austria
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International
● It's an NGO working in
collaboration with the
United Nation for
protection of Human Rights
.
● Promotes Human rights as
mentioned in Universal
Declaration of Human
rights
● Prepare reports and
policies on human rights.
● 1961, UK LONDON
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an
international non-governmental organization,
headquartered in New York City, that
conducts research and advocacy on human
rights. The group pressures governments,
policy makers, companies, and individual
human rights abusers to denounce abuse
and respect human rights, and the group
often works on behalf of refugees, children,
migrants, and political prisoners.
