<h5 id="overview">OVERVIEW</h5> <ul> <li>After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there were calls for restructuring international organizations to cope with new challenges, including the rise of US power.</li> <li>The potential reform of the United Nations Security Council is discussed as a case of the reform process and its difficulties.</li> <li>The chapter then discusses India’s involvement in the UN and its view of Security Council reforms.</li> <li>The UN’s role in a world dominated by one superpower is questioned.</li> <li>The chapter also touches on other trans-national organizations that are playing a crucial role.</li> <li>No equations or formulae are provided in the text.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="why-international-organisations">Why International Organisations?</h5> <ul> <li>International organizations, like the UN, are not a panacea but are important in addressing issues related to war and peace, and promoting cooperation among countries to improve global living conditions.</li> <li>The UN was created by and responds to states, helping member states resolve their problems peacefully, especially in situations where conflicts and differences can be resolved without going to war.</li> <li>International organizations play a crucial role in addressing challenges that require global cooperation, such as disease eradication, climate change, and managing international financial institutions.</li> <li>The UN’s role has evolved since the end of the Cold War, with potential for promoting dialogue and limiting the power of dominant countries, such as the US.</li> <li>The IMF is an example of an international organization that oversees international financial institutions and regulations, with major members having a greater share of the votes.</li> </ul> <p>Additional issues requiring international organization involvement:</p> <ul> <li>Ensuring fair trade practices and resolving international trade disputes.</li> <li>Promoting global education and cultural exchange.</li> <li>Addressing international migration and refugee crises.</li> <li>Protecting human rights and preventing international crimes.</li> <li>Managing global commons, such as oceans, space, and the internet.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="evolution-of-the-un">Evolution of the UN</h5> <ul> <li>The UN was established in 1945, after the First World War, to prevent international conflict and facilitate cooperation among states.</li> <li>The UN was founded by 51 states and its objective is to prevent conflicts between states from escalating into war, and to limit the extent of hostilities if war breaks out.</li> <li>The UN consists of 193 member states, with the UN General Assembly providing one vote each for all members, and the UN Security Council having five permanent members: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China.</li> <li>The UN’s most visible public figure is the Secretary-General, who is currently António Guterres.</li> <li>The UN includes many different structures and agencies, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), among others, which deal with various social and economic issues.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="reform-of-the-un-after-the-cold-war">Reform Of The UN After The Cold War</h5> <ul> <li>The UN was established in 1945, and its structure and functioning reflect the realities of world politics after the Second World War.</li> <li>Post-Cold War changes include the collapse of the Soviet Union, the emergence of the US as the strongest power, a more cooperative relationship between Russia and the US, the rapid emergence of China and the growth of India, the growth of Asian economies, the addition of many new countries to the UN, and new challenges such as genocide, civil war, ethnic conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, environmental degradation, and epidemics.</li> <li>The UN has been considering reforms since 1989, including changes to its structures and processes, and a review of the issues that fall within its jurisdiction.</li> <li>The biggest discussion has been on the functioning of the Security Council, including proposals to increase its permanent and non-permanent membership from Asia, Africa, and South America.</li> <li>There are also demands for improvements in the UN’s budgetary procedures and administration, and disagreements over the organization’s role in peace and security missions, development, and humanitarian work.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="reform-of-structures-and-processes">Reform of Structures and Processes</h5> <ul> <li>The text is a table from the World Bank listing the top 21 countries with the highest GDP.</li> <li>The USA has the highest GDP at 22.0%, followed by China (12.0%), Japan (8.5%), Germany (6.0%), and the UK (4.5%).</li> <li>The remaining countries in the top 21 are France, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Republic of Korea, Australia, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Argentina, Sweden, and India.</li> <li>The World Bank was established in 1944 and focuses on human development, agriculture and rural development, environmental protection, infrastructure, and governance in developing countries.</li> <li>The World Bank provides loans and grants to member countries and has significant influence over their economic policies.</li> <li>The World Bank is often criticized for setting the economic agenda of poorer nations, attaching strict conditions to loans, and forcing free market reforms.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="jurisdiction-of-the-un">Jurisdiction of The UN</h5> <ul> <li>The UN, at its 60th anniversary, decided to make changes to stay relevant, including:</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Creation of a Peacebuilding Commission to handle conflicts, with the aim of determining which conflicts to intervene in.</li> <li>Acceptance of responsibility by the international community in cases of national government failures to protect citizens from atrocities.</li> <li>Establishment of a Human Rights Council, which became operational on 19 June 2006.</li> <li>Agreements to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).</li> <li>Condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.</li> </ol> <ul> <li>The text also discusses several contentious issues related to these points, such as:</li> </ul> <ol> <li>The role of the Peacebuilding Commission in selecting conflicts to intervene in.</li> <li>The definition and enforcement of human rights and the determination of violations.</li> <li>The feasibility of achieving ambitious goals like the Sustainable Development Goals.</li> <li>The possibility of reaching a consensus on defining terrorism.</li> <li>The use of funds to promote democracy.</li> </ol> <p>======</p> <h5 id="india-and-the-un-reforms">India And The Un Reforms</h5> <ul> <li>India supports the restructuring of the UN, advocating for a stronger role in promoting development and cooperation among states.</li> <li>A key concern for India is the composition of the Security Council, which it believes should be expanded to better represent the current UN General Assembly membership, which is predominantly developing countries.</li> <li>India supports an increase in both permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council, and has expressed interest in becoming a permanent member itself, citing its large population, status as the world’s largest democracy, and significant contributions to the UN.</li> <li>The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that sets the rules for global trade, and India has been critical of the non-transparent procedures and dominance of major economic powers in the WTO.</li> <li>The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevents its use for military purposes. IAEA teams inspect nuclear facilities worldwide to ensure compliance with these goals.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="the-un-in-a-unipolar-world">The UN in a Unipolar World</h5> <ul> <li>The UN’s role in a unipolar world, with the US as the sole superpower, is a topic of concern. Some hope the UN can balance US dominance and maintain dialogue between the US and the rest of the world.</li> <li>The US, as the single largest contributor to the UN, has significant financial power and influence within the organization. Its veto power allows it to halt any moves deemed harmful to its interests, and helps ensure a considerable degree of say in choosing the Secretary-General.</li> <li>The UN’s impact as a balance to the US is limited, but it does provide a platform for discussions between the US and other nations. US leaders see the UN’s value in bringing together over 190 nations to address conflicts and social/economic development.</li> <li>Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are NGOs focused on human rights protection. They play critical roles in research, advocacy, and modifying US attitudes and policies.</li> <li>Despite the UN’s imperfections, its importance in an increasingly interconnected world is undeniable. Technological advancements will likely increase the UN’s significance in managing international relations and community interests.</li> </ul> <p>======</p>