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Outline for 10/15: The United Nations System
Historical Background
UN Charter
Why join?
Structure
Peacekeeping
UN Reform
Background
Founded in 1945 in San Francisco
Headquarters in New York opened in 1952
Leading founder was the United States
Why did the USA want a UN given our non-participation in the League of Nations?
Is the UN simply an international meeting place for sovereign nation-states
or is it an incipient form of world government seeking to supplant
national sovereignty?
The case for an international meeting place for sovereign nation-states…
The UN Charter
Must be signed by all governments seeking to join the UN
Has been signed by 192 national governments
Codifies that all states are equal in terms of international law
have full sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity
must carry out their international obligations.
Why do national governments join the UN?
Costs – Dues based on size of national economy
who are the largest contributors?
Benefits – International recognition as a sovereign state,
Convenient meeting place,
Access to information and technical expertise.
Others?
Is the US fully paid up in terms of its UN dues?
What are some potential benefits to UN membership for the US government?
The Case for Incipient World Government….
Basic structure of the UN system (see p. 238 G&P)
Legislative branches ?
Judicial branch ?
Executive branch ?
Security Council
Meets as needed in New York
Membership Permanent 5 + Rotating 10 (2 year terms)
How were P5 chosen?
How are the Rotating 10 selected?
UNSC resolutions require 9 “yes” votes with 0 “no” votes from the P5.
UNSC resolutions are, in theory, binding on member-states
General Assembly
Holds annual plenary sessions in New York, and occasional sessions on dedicated topics
Membership: All 192 UN member-states have one equal vote
But UNGA resolutions are explicitly non-binding
UNGA an important forum for developing countries, but often a source of irritation for the US government
Why would we create a UN that includes this structure?
International Court of Justice (World Court)
Meets as needed in The Hague, Netherlands.
15 judges serving 9 year terms
Hears only cases between national governments
Optional clause
Secretariat
Led by Secretary-General
Who is current Secretary-General (nationality)?
Appointment process
Nominated by UNSC
Approved by UNGA
UN staff of ~15,000
Even if it looks like a World Government, it’s hard for the UN to function as one given institutional
limitations
Limitations of UNSC as legislative body?
Limitations of UNGA as legislative body?
Limitations of World Court?
Limitations of Secretariat as executive actor?
Peacekeeping Forces
Many peacekeeping missions (see p. 246 G&P)
Yet not mentioned within UN Charter
So where does the authorization come from?
UN Reform
US Government wants smaller UN staff, reduced budget
Basis for this claim?
Other countries want permanent seats on UNSC
Which countries and on what basis?