UN Lecture Being Revised

 

Concert of Europe:  1815-?

 

1899: International Peace Conference in Hague – Hague Conventions and ICJ

League: 1919-1945

 

Created in 1945 – 50 states – with heavy push from US.  Term comes from allied nations in WW II = United Nations.

 

Budget for 2000-2001 = 2,535 million – raised from member states on formula.  Peace-Keeping programs can cost billions.

 

Roles of UN:

  1. forum where states promote their views
  2. institution for global identity
  3. mechanism for conflict resolution
  4. promote economic and social development
  5. coordinate relief efforts/refugee problems
  6. monitor elections

 

Structure of UN:

  1. General Assembly
    1. 191 members  (Switzerland in 2002). 
    2. Some organizations given “observer” state like PLO & NGO’s like Amnesty International
    3. Controls finanances
    4. Elects members to various UN bodies – esp. function commissions such as Human Rights Commission
    5. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) = controls economic/social aid
    6. UNESCO (
    7. UNICEF
    8. UNHCR
    9. UNEP
  2. UN Secretariat
  3. Autonomous Agencies:
    1. WHO
    2. IAEA
    3. IMF/World Bank
    4. WTO
  4. Judicial System
    1. International Court of Justice: Only states can be sued….15 Justices elected for 9 year terms by majority of SC and General Assembly.

                                                               i.      Optional clause

                                                             ii.      Notable success in 1992 dispute between El Salvador & Honduras

    1. International Criminal Court – 1998 most states signed treaty to create  would try genoncide, war crimes & crimes against humanity – 60 nations have now ratified so in effect.  Bush opposes (Clinton opposed w/o changes) – sovereignty – US soldiers prosecuted – plans not to submit to Senate for ratification. 
    2. Ad Courts

 

Conflict Resolution:

  1. Nuetral Place to discuss/meet even w/o direct contact
  2. Arbitration – e.g. ICJ (World Court)
  3. Peace-Building (Economic/Social Development & Monitor Elections)
  4. Peace-Keeping: E.g. Sinai Accords.
  5. Peace-Making & Collective Security Concept

 

UN Security Council:

  1. 15 members, 5 permanent w/ vetos, 10 elected by GA for two-year terms (geographic representation – Israel never would be elected).
  2. 9 affirmative votes required to pass resolution – with no perm five vetos.

 

 

Problems:

Sovereignty v. Human Rights/Justice = Inter-governmental Organization v. Transgovernmental

Corruption & Hypocrisy

Payment Disputes

Stalemated by national interests – esp. at SC

Debate over restructuring the SC

Oil for Food Scandal

ICC

General Utility of UN?

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule