1. UN Lecture Notes

2. United Nations Overview
World History – Neilson

3. Forerunner Post WWI League of Nations 1919: Treaty of Versailles
Woodrow Wilson’s vision to “Promote cooperation and achieve peace and security.”
3 reasons it failed
No U.S.
USSR Non-Committal
No “teeth”

4. United Nations Founding
1944: US, UK, China, Soviet Union – early proposals
1945, San Francisco: 51 countries create charter
UN Day: October 24

5. Membership Member? Accept obligations of UN Charter
1945: 50 members sign + Poland
1949: 59 (Israel)
1956: 80 (Japan)
1960: 99 (16 in Africa)
1971: 132 (5 in Middle East)
1977: 149 (Viet Nam)
1992: 179 (former Soviet states)
2006: 192 (Montenegro)
Who’s not in the United Nations?

6. United Nations Purpose
The UN was created to maintain international peace and security.
It also works to maintain friendly relationships between countries.
Lastly, it works to promote economic development of member nations.
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
What did it say?

7. UN Principles Sovereign equality of all members.
Fulfill obligations of charter – assistance.
Settle disputes peacefully.
Refrain from threat or use of force.
No domestic interference.

8. UN World Headquarters: New York City

9. General Assembly All members: one seat, one vote Sept-Dec
Decision Making
Want Consensus
Settle for vote (majority or 2/3)
Simple majority vote for non peace/security/budget/new member issues

10. Security Council Anytime peace threatened 15 members 9/15 vote
5 Permanent
10: 2-year terms
9/15 vote
“Permanent” Veto
Why?
China, France, Russia, UK, US,
Who in this class gets veto power???

11. The “UN System” 6 main committees
30 affiliated organizations (IMF, World Bank, WHO)
9000 employees
Secretariat
Secretary General Ban Ki- moon, Republic of Korea
Secretariat made up of secretary general and 10+ thousand UN staffers who carry out daily tasks
Secretary general (5 year term) –appointed by general assembly, recommended by security council

12. World Health Organization
Coordinating authority on world public health.
Monitors outbreaks of infectious disease.
Supports development, distribution of drugs, vaccines, diagnostics.
Smallpox gone; polio soon?
Current: AIDS, malaria.

13. Unicef – UN Children’s Fund
Research, Advocacy
Shelter, Healthcare, Education
Protection from abuse, violence, exploitation
1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child

14. UNESCO –UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
Dialogue: relationships  peace.
Education: K-5 for all, gender equity.
Science: water for all, sustainable development, alleviate poverty.
Culture: respect diversity, access to information, freedom of expression.

15. UNHCR –UN Refugee Agency
Refugee – Driven from country for economic or political reasons.
Internally Displaced Person
Emergency Response
Protection
Asylum
Advocacy – Resolve economic, political issues so refugees can return home.

16. IAEA – Atomic Energy Agency
Safety/Security – Help nations upgrade, address emergencies.
Science/Technology – Develop peaceful applications.
Safeguards/ Verification – Inspectors verify no nuclear weapons.

17. WTO – World Trade Organization
Promotes free trade
Mediates trade fights
150 in; 32 want in.
Criticisms
Developing nations need protections.
Big economies dominate agreements.
Labor and environment standards suffer.

18. IMF – International Monetary Fund
Stable exchange rates
Emergency loans to nations to pay bills.
Financial reforms to fix deficits, inflation, etc.
Criticisms
Reforms fail.
“Loan Addicts”
Reactive, not Proactive

19. World Bank
Development loans for infrastructure, health, education, agriculture.
Low loan rates, terms.
Technical Assistance.
Criticisms
Tool of U.S. 85/16
Multinational corporations benefit?
Past loans to dictators.

20. Carrots Ceasefire and/or truce.
Peacekeepers to separate warring parties.
Mediation: Negotiate peace plans.
“Safe areas” and humanitarian relief.
Financial Assistance.

21. Sticks Political Sanctions: No participation.
Economic Sanctions: Restricted trade, loans.
Military Sanctions: Investigations and criminal tribunals.
“No Fly” Zone.
Endorse military intervention.