Nvard V. Manasian [email protected] The United Nations System International Organizations

Nvard V. Manasian manasiNvard V. Manasian [email protected]@arminco.com

The United Nations SystemThe United Nations System

International OrganizationsInternational Organizations


Foundations of the UNFoundations of the UN

1941, The Atlantic Charter1941, The Atlantic Charter Security system and economic Security system and economic

collaborationcollaboration Sovereign equality of member statesSovereign equality of member states Five permanent members as a guarantee Five permanent members as a guarantee

for the SC decisionsfor the SC decisions The US to adopt the UN charter in 1945The US to adopt the UN charter in 1945 50 states initially agree on the 50 states initially agree on the

arrangements for a better worldarrangements for a better world


Underlying principles of the UN Underlying principles of the UN CharterCharter

States shall refrain from the threat or use States shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any statepolitical independence of any state

Settle international disputes by peaceful Settle international disputes by peaceful meansmeans

States are obliged to fulfill in good faith all States are obliged to fulfill in good faith all the obligations assumed under the charterthe obligations assumed under the charter



The UN and World PoliticsThe UN and World Politics 1946-50s emerging Cold War for years shaped the 1946-50s emerging Cold War for years shaped the

politics of the SC and the UNpolitics of the SC and the UN Vietnam war led by the US and Soviet invasion of Vietnam war led by the US and Soviet invasion of

Czechoslovakia and Hungary circumvented the UNCzechoslovakia and Hungary circumvented the UN Possible nuclear treat shaped the global politics and Possible nuclear treat shaped the global politics and

augmented the role of the UNaugmented the role of the UN Mostly peaceful decolonization and emergence of new Mostly peaceful decolonization and emergence of new

states via smooth transition due to the global stagestates via smooth transition due to the global stage The North-South conflict, G-77, NIEO, Kyoto protocolThe North-South conflict, G-77, NIEO, Kyoto protocol Post cold war politics of peace and the greater role of the Post cold war politics of peace and the greater role of the

UNUN Democracy spreading further to such regions as Latin Democracy spreading further to such regions as Latin

AmericaAmerica Globalization and pressures to create world governance Globalization and pressures to create world governance

structures in the new millenniumstructures in the new millennium


Reform?Reform?

All agree that finances All agree that finances need to be reformed: need to be reformed: sustainabilitysustainability


Other reform issuesOther reform issues Coordination and Coordination and

management: How to management: How to improve ECOSOC?improve ECOSOC?

Dialogue with IMF Dialogue with IMF and WBand WB

Structural reform of Structural reform of the Security Council: the Security Council: away from P-5 or away from P-5 or what is the formula?what is the formula?

NGOs demand NGOs demand openness of SCopenness of SC

The Security Council is the United Nations' most powerful body. It has "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security." Five powerful countries sit as "permanent members" along with ten other member states, elected for two-year terms. Since 1990, the Council has dramatically increased its activity and it now meets in nearly continuous session. It dispatches military operations, imposes economic sanctions, mandates arms inspections, deploys human rights and election monitors and more.


RegionalismRegionalism


The Roots and Dynamics of RegionalismThe Roots and Dynamics of Regionalism

Regionalism=geographical proximity + degree of mutual Regionalism=geographical proximity + degree of mutual interdependenceinterdependence

Regionalism can be defined as:Regionalism can be defined as:

Essentialist approach Constructivist approach

There is a natural core of economic, security,

religious and cultural links among the states.

The region is a sociopolitical construct

with concepts, metaphors and practices driving it.


Political factors driving regionalismPolitical factors driving regionalism

Identity (Constructivism) as the shared Identity (Constructivism) as the shared perception externally and internally, such as perception externally and internally, such as economic or security threat or cultural and economic or security threat or cultural and religious congruencereligious congruence

Internal and external threats (Realism) such as Internal and external threats (Realism) such as the Cold war and the creation of NATO, EC, the Cold war and the creation of NATO, EC, China vs. ASEAN, Arab League vs. Israel,China vs. ASEAN, Arab League vs. Israel,

Domestic politics, such as industries rallying for Domestic politics, such as industries rallying for closer economic ties and MERCOSURcloser economic ties and MERCOSUR

Leadership of certain states or individuals, such Leadership of certain states or individuals, such as Indonesia and ASEAN, Canada and NAFTA, as Indonesia and ASEAN, Canada and NAFTA, etc.etc.


Economic factors driving regionalismEconomic factors driving regionalism

Economic interdependence, more Economic interdependence, more particularly trade flow intensityparticularly trade flow intensity

Larger market creation for bigger FDIsLarger market creation for bigger FDIs Further political and security reasons for Further political and security reasons for

cooperation cooperation First wave of R: 1950-60s, i. e. NATO, First wave of R: 1950-60s, i. e. NATO,

OASOAS Second wave of R: 1980-90s, i. e. EU, Second wave of R: 1980-90s, i. e. EU,

CIS, MERCOSURCIS, MERCOSUR


Some regionalsSome regionals NATO the most organized security regional organization, NATO the most organized security regional organization,

started with the Cold war it is now a peacekeeping force, started with the Cold war it is now a peacekeeping force, maybe to become a piece of UN puzzle?maybe to become a piece of UN puzzle?

EU the best developed regional unit that has come to EU the best developed regional unit that has come to replace the national states, can it become a model for replace the national states, can it become a model for other regionals?other regionals?

Hemispheric regionalism, i. e. OAS, subregional Hemispheric regionalism, i. e. OAS, subregional cooperation MERCOSUR, NAFTAcooperation MERCOSUR, NAFTA

Balancing against China and Japan, ASEAN, APECBalancing against China and Japan, ASEAN, APEC Dealing with traumas of a colonial legacy, AUDealing with traumas of a colonial legacy, AU

Documents

Nvard V. Manasian [email protected] The United Nations System International Organizations