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?