AIM:AIM:

To what extent has the UN been To what extent has the UN been successful? successful?

Topic:The United NationsTopic:The United Nations

Why do we have the UN?Why do we have the UN? In 1945, with the end of WWII nearing, In 1945, with the end of WWII nearing,

the United Nations was created to the United Nations was created to replace the failed League of replace the failed League of Nations( WWI remember?).Nations( WWI remember?).

History of the United NationsHistory of the United Nations In 1945, San Francisco hosted the United In 1945, San Francisco hosted the United

Nations Conference on International Nations Conference on International Organizations.Organizations.

There were 50 countries represented at the There were 50 countries represented at the United Nations Conference including: 1. United United Nations Conference including: 1. United States, 2.France, 3.United Kingdom,4. Soviet States, 2.France, 3.United Kingdom,4. Soviet Union (now Russia), and 5.China.Union (now Russia), and 5.China.

These five countries are known as the These five countries are known as the

““Permanent FivePermanent Five”” members members..

What does the United Nations Do?What does the United Nations Do? The UN was created to maintain The UN was created to maintain

international peace and international peace and security.security.

It also works to maintain friendly It also works to maintain friendly relationships between countries.relationships between countries.

Lastly, it works to promote Lastly, it works to promote economic development of economic development of member nations.member nations.

Who and Where?Who and Where? Almost all countries in the world Almost all countries in the world

are members of the UN.are members of the UN. There are currently 192 countries There are currently 192 countries

in the UN.in the UN. The headquarters is in New York The headquarters is in New York

City.City. The International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice

(ICJ) is located in The Hague in the (ICJ) is located in The Hague in the Netherlands.Netherlands.

UN World HeadquartersUN World HeadquartersNew YorkNew York

Parts of the United NationsParts of the United Nations1. 1. The General AssemblyThe General Assembly – the – the ‘‘town town

meetingmeeting’’ of the world. of the world.

2. 2. UN Security CouncilUN Security Council – maintains world – maintains world peace (most powerful branch)peace (most powerful branch)

3. 3. Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council - works with - works with the UNthe UN’’s economic, cultural, health and s economic, cultural, health and educational activities.educational activities.

4. 4. Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council – territories – territories ( colonies)( colonies)

5. 5. ICJICJ – International Court of Justice – International Court of Justice

6. 6. The SecretariatThe Secretariat – administrative duties – administrative duties

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeThe Hague, NetherlandsThe Hague, Netherlands

The General AssemblyThe General Assembly Every member nation has a Every member nation has a

seat at the General Assembly.seat at the General Assembly. Brings up international issues Brings up international issues

that they want the Security that they want the Security Council to deal withCouncil to deal with

Holds elections for Security Holds elections for Security Council members and other Council members and other leadersleaders

The General AssemblyThe General AssemblyInside UN HeadquartersInside UN Headquarters

UN Security CouncilUN Security Council Made up of 15 countries:Made up of 15 countries:

• The The ““Permanent FivePermanent Five”” countries countries• 10 non-permanent countries (elected 10 non-permanent countries (elected

every two years)every two years) The strong-arm of the UNThe strong-arm of the UN Maintains international peace- peace Maintains international peace- peace

talks, economic sanctions, military talks, economic sanctions, military sanctionssanctions

The UN Security CouncilThe UN Security CouncilInside World HeadquartersInside World Headquarters

SanctionsSanctions Sanctions are used to punish a Sanctions are used to punish a

country for violating international country for violating international law. They can be used to force a law. They can be used to force a country to follow a law.country to follow a law.

In order for sanctions to be used In order for sanctions to be used by the UN Security Council, ALL by the UN Security Council, ALL FIVE permanent members must FIVE permanent members must have a unanimous vote.have a unanimous vote.

Types of SanctionsTypes of Sanctions Diplomatic SanctionsDiplomatic Sanctions – removal – removal

of all political ties (like of all political ties (like embassies)embassies)

Economic SanctionsEconomic Sanctions – ban on all – ban on all trade with a country (except trade with a country (except food)food)

Military SanctionsMilitary Sanctions – using a – using a military to force compliance.military to force compliance.

Military SanctionsMilitary Sanctions UN PeacekeepersUN Peacekeepers – a group of armed – a group of armed

soldiers sent to a hostile area to promote soldiers sent to a hostile area to promote peace. They ARE NOT COMBAT TROOPS.peace. They ARE NOT COMBAT TROOPS.

These soldiers maintain peace. These soldiers maintain peace. They donThey don’’t go on combat missions.t go on combat missions. They are not an They are not an ‘‘armyarmy’’

UN Military ForceUN Military Force – an army made up of – an army made up of soldiers from more than one UN country soldiers from more than one UN country that can serve as combat troops.that can serve as combat troops.

Used in Korean WarUsed in Korean War

UN PeacekeepersUN PeacekeepersThey always wear They always wear blue beretsblue berets or or blue helmetsblue helmets

to identify themselves.to identify themselves.

Major UN MissionsMajor UN Missions IraqIraq (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all

trade with Iraq after it failed to comply trade with Iraq after it failed to comply with international law, but some nations with international law, but some nations continued to trade with them.continued to trade with them.

SomaliaSomalia (Africa) – UN humanitarian (Africa) – UN humanitarian mission to get food and supplies to mission to get food and supplies to people in needpeople in need

HaitiHaiti (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen government, army, and hold electionsgovernment, army, and hold elections

Strengths of the UNStrengths of the UN Provides a forum for almost all of the Provides a forum for almost all of the

worldworld’’s nations to discuss s nations to discuss international issuesinternational issues

Humanitarian effortsHumanitarian efforts• AIDSAIDS• Landmine removalLandmine removal• Food and supply organizationFood and supply organization

Peacekeeping forcesPeacekeeping forces Will get involved with messes that no Will get involved with messes that no

one else willone else will

Weaknesses of the UNWeaknesses of the UN Sanctions are only effective if ALL Sanctions are only effective if ALL

countries follow them (Iraq example)countries follow them (Iraq example) Military force is rarely used and is usually Military force is rarely used and is usually

ineffectiveineffective ALL permanent members of the security ALL permanent members of the security

council have to vote unanimously (one council have to vote unanimously (one country can stop a sanction)country can stop a sanction)

Inadequate funding by member nationsInadequate funding by member nations• 14 Countries Pay 85% of the subscriptions 14 Countries Pay 85% of the subscriptions

(membership fee)(membership fee) Big gap between developing and Big gap between developing and

industrialized nationsindustrialized nations

UN Analysis QuestionsUN Analysis Questions

What do you think the world would be What do you think the world would be like without the United Nations?like without the United Nations?

UN Analysis Questions (cont)UN Analysis Questions (cont) Which part of the Untied Which part of the Untied

Nations would you put the Nations would you put the most money towards? Why?most money towards? Why?

What are some alternatives to What are some alternatives to economic and military economic and military sanctions if they donsanctions if they don ’’t work?t work?