The United Nations

1
The United Nations
2
UN Charter

• UN established in 1945, San Francisco Meeting
• 51 member countries originally
• 191 member countries today
• Inter-government organization
• UN charter
• Principle of sovereignty
• Principle of non-intervention
• Collective security
• National self determination, but secondary to
  sovereignty

3
International Institutions(AKA International
Regimes)

• International law
• UN Security Council Resolution, Treaties
• International organizations/agencies
• UN, World Bank, World Trade Organization
• Soft law/rules
• UN General Assembly resolutions
• International norms, principles, practices
• Free commerce, sovereignty, accountability,
  anti-apartheid, human rights, womens rights

4
UN Core Institutions

• General Assembly
• One country, one vote, two-thirds majority
• Resolutions
• Budget
• Security Council
• 5 permanent members
• 10 rotating members
• Decision 9 out of 15
• UN Secretariat
• Secretary General

5
Specialized Programs

• United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
• United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
• Unite Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
  for Human Rights (OHCHR)

6
Specialized Agencies

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
• World Bank Group
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• Etc., etc

7
UN and Conflict Prevention

• Cold War
• SC blocked by bi-polar interests
• Collective Security action
• Gulf war 1991
• US hegemony and intervention without
  authorization
• Kosovo 1999
• Iraq 2003

8
UN Reform

• Budget
• US went from 30 to 25, Japan seeks to reduce
• Human Rights Commission
• Membership by countries that violate HR
• Security Council