1. War, Peace and the U.N.

2. The United Nations was created at the end of the Second World War, replacing the League of Nations
US President Franklin D Roosevelt was a driving force behind the creation of the United Nations
The name “United Nations” was used by Roosevelt to describe the alliance fighting the Axis powers in World War 2

3. The Four Policemen
World peace was to be maintained by what Roosevelt described as the “four policemen”-the US, UK, USSR and China, acting together to prevent conflict
These four policemen, along with France, became the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
The USSR initially opposed China’s inclusion as one of the “policemen”, but Roosevelt insisted. Churchill was not happy about it either.

4. The Birth of the United Nations
26 June 1945, representatives of 50 countries sign the charter of the United Nations at a conference in San Francisco
UN officially comes into existence on 24 October 1945

5. The Preamble to the Charter
WE THE PEOPLES 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,

6. The UN Charter Outlawed War Except In Self Defence
All members were to settle their disputes peacefully
Members were to refrain from the threat of force, or the use of force against other member states
The Security Council, not individual countries, was to decide whether military force is to be used.
Countries were supposed to keep a certain proportion of their armed forces for use by the United Nations

7. The Structure of the UN
Security Council: responsible for peace, has 15 members
General Assembly: main deliberative forum of the UN has 191 members
The UN Secretariat headed by the Secretary General
International Court of Justice based in The Hague, Holland

8. Cont’d
Economic and Social Council- deals with issues of economic development
Specialised agencies such as the World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Labour Organization

9. The Security Council
The Security Council has five permanent members: US, UK, France, Russia and China.
10 other countries elected for two year terms
Not all members are equal: permanent members have the power of veto
Charter gives the Security Council “primary responsibility for international peace and security”

11. What Does The Security Council Do To Maintain Peace?
If the Security Council decides there is a threat to international peace it normally begins by calling for negotiations to resolve the problem
The UN Secretary General or his representative talks to the countries involved and urges them to settle the problem

12. If that does not work Can impose diplomatic and economic sanctions
Air and sea blockades
If there is still no progress the Security Council can authorize military action

13. The Weakness of the UN System in Enforcing Peace
Veto power: the UN can only take serious action when all the “policemen” agree:
“Decisions of the Security Council shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members”
When one or other great power has been involved, the UN has been powerless- ie Hungary in 1956 and Vietnam 1950’s-1970’s
The exception was Korea in 1950.

14. The Composition of the Security Council does not reflect present day realities
France is a member of the Security Council only because it was a victor in World War 2. Should France still be there?
Japan and Germany the world’s third and fourth largest economies are not Security Council members.
Efforts to expand Security Council membership have failed because countries cannot decide on how it should be done.
Probable candidates: Japan, India, Brazil and one African country (Nigeria?)

15. Korea Somalia Bosnia Gulf War
In more than 50 years, the UN Security Council has only authorized military action in the following cases
Korea
Somalia
Bosnia
Gulf War
In all these cases different countries have undertaken military action with the permission of the UN. The UN itself has not gone to war

16. Typical UN Operations Are Peacekeeping Not War Fighting
These operations usually come into effect once a war is over
They monitor ceasefires, and help to maintain a buffer between the warring parties
The peacekeepers are there at the request of the warring parties
Their main role is to calm things and build confidence among the warring parties
Soldiers from different countries are assigned to the UN, and are responsible to the United Nations, not their own countries

17. UN Peacekeeping Operations
At present, there are 40,000 UN peacekeepers serving all over the world.
13 UN peacekeeping missions all over the world
The first ever UN peacekeeping mission established in the Middle East in 1948 is still continuing

18. Cont’d
The UN has no military force of its own, and is dependent on other countries to provide military forces
The UN Charter requires countries to maintain a certain part of their forces for the use of the UN. This has never been done
Instead of representing the world, the UN is often pushed into becoming an instrument of its most powerful members

19. Points to Remember
The United Nations system was based on the belief that the great powers who won the Second World War would continue their war time alliance, and continue to work together to maintain world peace. That never happened.
The United Nations can only do what its members, particularly its most powerful members allow it it do.
When the UN is unable to act, it is usually because one or two of its powerful members do not want it to do so.
The UN is not perfect, but it is the only institution we have where countries can solve problems together.

20. Questions
What is the purpose of the UN? Are the UN’s purposes and principles realistic? Does the UN today live up to what it set forth so many years ago?
Does the UN challenge the status quo, or preserve it? The UN is “based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members”. But some members are more equal than others; the Permanent 5 have veto power in the Security Council. Is the UN about promoting global progress or preserving the power of the Permanent 5?
2. Health, refugees, human rights, environmental issues, sustainable development, promoting economic development-all these issues require international cooperation. The UN is the only forum for such cooperation