1. What is it, how does it function, and whose interests does it serve?
The United Nations
What is it, how does it function, and whose interests does it serve?

2. 5-3-1
Take a minute to think about what words come to mind when you think about the United Nations (UN)
With a partner, come up with five (5) words that best describe the UN
Narrow those five (5) words down to three (3)
Once you have three (3) words, decide which one (1), in your view, best describes the UN
Be prepared to justify your choice

4. Sovereignty
“The exclusive right to the exercise of force within a given territory and the sole right to raise taxes, pass laws, and represent that territory internationally”
One of the founding principles of the UN is respect for state-sovereignty

5. Self-interest
Sovereign states are like parents – their principal interest is to protect their citizens/family
Like parents, states make cost-benefit analyses when making decisions – e.g. is it good for the family? What are the risks?

6. The UN: what is it?

7. The UN: what is it? (cont’d)
An association of governments of sovereign states
NOT a global government
An international forum where leaders of all countries can express their voices and make collective votes on important issues

9. UN Aims Keep world peace Develop friendly relations among nations
Work to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy
Encourage respect for human rights and freedoms
Stop environmental destruction

10. How does such a large organization function to achieve these aims?
Think of the UN as the human body – it has various organs that serve different roles to help it function
Roles include re-locating refugees, protecting human rights, providing vaccines, medicine and food, and protecting children
UNESCO, UNDP, WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNHCHR, UNIDO, FAO

11. The General Assembly
It is the UN’s central body, and is made up of all 192 member states
A “one country-one vote” system
It votes on issues related to peace, security and admission of new members (votes require two-thirds majority)

12. The General Assembly (cont’d)
Votes are not legally binding, but can make recommendations to the Security Council
Approves budget of the UN
President of General Assembly is elected every year

13. General Assembly Observers
The General Assembly allows international organizations, entities and non-member states to observe
Observers can speak in debates, submit proposals and amendments, and raise points of order

14. The Security Council The most powerful organ of the UN
Charged with maintaining international peace and security
Comprised of fifteen (15) members, five (5) of whom are permanent

15. The Security Council (cont’d)
Five permanent members: France, U.S., U.K., Russia and China
Each permanent member holds veto power

16. The Security Council (cont’d)
Remaining ten are elected every two years by the General Assembly
Only body allowed to legally authorize sanctions against a country, and to take military action against a state

17. Canada and the Security Council
Canada has served on the Security Council for six (6) terms (12 years), one of the most out of non-permanent members
It has served every decade and never lost a bid until 2010, when the Harper government withdrew its bid

18. The Good Millennium Development Goals Vaccines Food and shelter
Education
Refugee relocation

19. The Bad Peacekeeping failures in Rwanda, Bosnia, etc.
Corruption and bureaucracy
Power imbalance
Oil for Food Scandal
Sex abuse by soldiers

20. Sovereignty

21. CONTRIBUTION (% OF UN BUDGET)
Top UN Contributors
MEMBER STATE
CONTRIBUTION (% OF UN BUDGET)
United States
22.0%
Japan
12.53%
Germany
8.018%
United Kingdom
6.604%
France
6.123
Italy
4.99%
Canada
3.207%
China
3.189%
Spain
3.177%
Mexico
2.356%
Other Member States
27.797%

22. Top Contributors to UN Peacekeeping
MEMBER STATE
NUMBER OF TROOPS
Bangladesh
10,736
Pakistan
10,691
India
8,935
Nigeria
5,709
Egypt
5,458
Nepal
5,044
Jordan
3,826
Ghana
3,647
Rwanda
3,635
Uruguay
2,489
CANADA (50th)
200
UNITED STATES (70th) 82
As of March, 2011, there are 82,058 troops on the ground around the world
114 countries are contributing uniformed personnel
Budget from July 2010 to June 2011 is about US$7.83 billion

23. Think/Pair/Share
Take a minute to think of possible flaws in the way that the Security Council and General Assembly are designed
With a partner, share your thoughts and together come up with two (2) possible solutions

24. Agree or Disagree? Four Corners
“Risking lives in the absence of any definable national interest can only lead to over-commitment, to serious damage to relations with other, often far more important governments, and to an erosion of domestic support”
-Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

25. Agree or Disagree? Four Corners
“Sometimes the moral choice isn’t necessarily the legal one.”