United Nations

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United Nations

• History 12
• Ms Leslie

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• First talked about in the 1941 Atlantic Charter.
• Name came up in the 1942 Washington meetings.
• At Yalta the voting procedures of the Security
  Council.
• San Francisco Conference, 1945, 50 nations signed
  the United Nations Charter.

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• Changed since its inception 3rd world
  countries are the bulk of membership.
• Good for reducing tensions, negotiating
  cease-fires, help with social and economic
  development
• Universal declaration of Human Rights Baseline
  for all nations to strive for

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Structure of the UN

• General Assembly
• All members get 1 vote.
• Meets every September
• Talk about International Problems
• Elects Security Council members
• 2/3 majority vote needed to make decisions

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• The Security Council
• Originally had 11 members
• 5 of which were permanent China, France, UK,
  USA and USSR
• Other 6 elected for 2 year terms
• 1960 increased to 10 nonpermanent members
• Take action in time of crisis.

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• Permanent members have veto power so little
  action has been taken.
• In 1950 changed the rules so that if something is
  vetoed the assembly can meet within 24 hours to
  decide action with a 2/3 majority.
• This has not been added to the charter as the
  USSR never agreed to it.

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• The Secretariat
• Administrative work minutes, translating
• Headed by the Secretary General on a 5 year term

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International Court of Justice

• At The Hague, Netherlands
• 15 judges elected for 3 years terms by Assembly.
• Decisions not binding and nothing to ensure
  compliance
• Good for arbitration

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• Trusteeship Council
• Replaced the Mandate system
• Help new territories prepare for independence
• No longer in use as there are no trustees

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• Economic and Social Council
• 27 members for 3 year terms. 9 change each year.
• Promote health, education and socio-economic
  progress.
• WHO, ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, IMF

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• UN Peace Keeping
• To deal with crisis militarily
• Has had little success.
• The success its had was with there were no great
  powers involved.

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Some of the peacekeeping

• 1946 Dutch East Indies fighting in West New
  Guinea resulted in WNG going to Indonesia
• 1947 Palestinia and Israel arranged the
  partitioning and the birth of Israel.
• 1950-1953- Korean War first collective security
  actions under the UN

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• 1956- Suez Canal Crisis Helped dispel
  aggression
• 1956- Hungarian uprising USSR vetoed.
• 1960-64 Belgian Congo Civil War. Provided
  20,000 troops to restore order
• 1968 Prague Spring USSR vetoed again

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Pessimistic view of UN

• Hasnt really done much
• Powerless in crises like Vietnam and Cold War
• Court rulings non-binding whats the point?

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Optimistic view

• Great for new members to get experience
• Only forum where 150 nations meet regularly
• Elimination of small pox