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UNO and the Global Disputes

UNO and the Global Disputes

Section titled “UNO and the Global Disputes”

2020-04-27 15:40 :51

Aims of UN

Section titled “Aims of UN”
  • Preserve peace eliminate war
  • Remove causes of conflict encourage econ, social, educational etc progress
  • Safeguard rights of all individuals

Structure

Section titled “Structure”
  • Gen Assembly - rep from each mem, 5 reps max, 1 vote per nation, once a yr, consider UN budget, decisions don not need unanimous vote, translated in 6 official lang inc CN, SPA, Arabic
  • Security Council - deal w/ crises as they rise, can take econ mil action, 2/3 majority vote for membership, 5 perm 6 temp originally inc to 10, veto, Uniting for Peace resolution in case of veto ASSEMBLY would meet within 24 hrs to take mil etc decision by 2/3rd majority to overcome veto.
  • Secretariat - office staff headed by Secretary - General
  • ICJ
  • Trusteeship Council - to govern areas, South Africa did not give Namibia for independence
  • ECOSOC -
  • ICC

Difference b/w UN LoN

Section titled “Difference b/w UN LoN”
  • UN spends much more time resources
  • Committed to safeguard individual HR
  • Inc power prestige of Secy General, better procedures like Uniting for Peace resolution
  • More members
  • Weakness - both do not have permanent army, power of veto

How Successful - More Successful than LoN

Section titled “How Successful - More Successful than LoN”
  • West New Guinea 1946 -
    • independence from Holland join Indonesia, org by UN force
  • Palestine 1947 -
    • divide into Israel - war b/w ISR and Arab states,
    • set up UN Relief and Works agency for Arab refugees
  • Korean War 1950-53 -
    • condemned DPRK, absence of RUS delegates, coordination of troops to repel invasion - led passing of Uniting for Peace resolution,
    • attack by RUS on Secy Gen Trygve Lie
  • Suez Crisis 1956 -
    • Nasser Egypt nationalised Suez canal, BR FR sent troops, Gen Assembly passed resolution condemning it, withdrawal,
    • promise for reasonable settlement, UN force sent
  • Hungarian Rising 1956 -
    • Soviet invasion, vetoed SC resolution, ignored cooperation w/ UN committee, ,ineffective
  • Civil war in Congo 1960/64 -
    • UN fund to tackle internal crisis, 20000 force sent But fin cost high brought close to bankruptcy, USSR FR BEL refused to pay their contri towards cost of operation
  • Cyprus
    • b/w GRE vs TUR, UNPKF 3000 permanently stationed, TUR invaded drove out GRE Cypriots, UN unable to remove TUR troops, ceasefire achieved however
  • Kashmir -
    • 1965 UN intervened ceasefire, 1999 Pak invasion
  • Czechoslovak Crisis 1968
    • RUS + other Warsaw pact troops sent, vetoed SC resolution, USSR refused to coop
  • Lebanon
    • ISR invaded South against Palestine Guerrillas, UN Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL sent, withdrawal,
    • 1990s Hezbollah operated from here, ISR attack occupied areas, UNIFIL inc to 8000, withdrawal, UNIFIL train Lebanon soldiers
    • UN arranged ceasefire again in 2006 presence inc to 12000
  • Iran Iraq War 1980
    • UN successful negotiate ceasefire

Since the End of Cold War

Section titled “Since the End of Cold War”
  • 1991 Gulf War
    • IRQ invasion of Kuwait, ignored UN, force sent to KSA
  • Cambodia
    • Khmer rouge commie Guerrillas seized power, brutal regime, 1/3rd pop killed, VTE put end to it, UN organised peace after 1989
  • Mozambique
    • Independence from POR, civil war, UN disarmed various armies, distributing humanitarian relief, org elections
  • Somalia
    • Civil war 1991, refugees fleeing to Kenya, Org of African Unity asked for help, 37000 troops UN, UN withdraws when warlords did not disarm
    • No action on genocide in Rwanda,
  • Bosnia
    • Bosnian Muslims vs Serbs, UN not sent enough troops, unable to prevent Serbs from capturing Srebrenica Zepa killed 8000
  • Overthrow of Saddam Hussein
    • US BR launched invasion, no authorisation from UNSC
    • Blow to prestige,

PYQs

Section titled “PYQs”

UNO and the global disputes

  1. “The Security Council is the heart of the United Nations.” Comment. [2003, 10 Marks]

• The Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations, as it is responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

• It is composed of 15 members, five of which are permanent: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

• The Security Council is the only UN body with the power to issue binding resolutions, which are legally binding on all UN member states.

• The Security Council has the power to impose sanctions, authorize the use of military force, and establish peacekeeping operations.

• The Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and is the only UN body with the authority to take collective action in this regard.

• The Security Council is also responsible for the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

• It is the only UN body that can refer a matter to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion.

• The Security Council is the only UN body that can refer a situation to the International Criminal Court for investigation and prosecution of individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

• The Security Council is the only UN body that can impose binding sanctions on countries that violate international law.

• The Security Council is the only UN body that can establish international tribunals to try individuals for violations of international humanitarian law.

• The Security Council is the only UN body that can authorize the deployment of international forces to enforce a ceasefire or other peace agreement.

Historian John Lewis Gaddis: “The Security Council is the most important body in the United Nations system, and it is the one that sets the tone for the entire organization.”

Political Thinker Henry Kissinger: “The Security Council is the most important forum for the resolution of international disputes. It provides the only means for collective security and the maintenance of peace and stability.”

  1. Examine the peace keeping efforts of the United Nations Organization. [2009, 30 Marks]

The United Nations (UN) has played a major role in peacekeeping efforts since its establishment in 1945. UN peacekeeping operations are intended to help countries transition from conflict to peace, such as by monitoring ceasefires, enforcing peace agreements, and providing security for civilians. According to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, “The United Nations has become almost a synonym for peacekeeping.”

UN peacekeeping operations have achieved some successes, such as in East Timor in 1999, where UN forces helped establish peace after years of civil war. However, the UN has also faced criticism for its peacekeeping efforts.

  1. Success: In 1995, the UN peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina helped to end a three-year civil war, resulting in the Dayton Peace Accords.

  2. Success: The UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti helped to restore democracy in the country in 1994.

  3. Failure: The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has been criticized for its inability to prevent violence and protect civilians in the country.

  4. Failure: The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has been criticized for its inability to protect civilians from violence and prevent the country from sliding into civil war.

  5. Success: The UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) helped to end a decade-long civil war in the country in 2002.

  6. Failure: The UN peacekeeping mission in Syria (UNSMIS) has been criticized for its inability to protect civilians from violence and prevent the conflict from escalating. For example, a 2017 report from the International Peace Institute found that UN peacekeeping operations often lack the resources and personnel needed to effectively implement their mandates.

  7. “In spite of the careful framing of the charter, the role of UNO as Peacekeeper and international mediator has been somewhat lack luster, muted and that continues to be so even after the end of cold war.” Elucidate. [2013, 25 Marks]

The statement that the role of the United Nations Organization (UNO) as a peacekeeper and international mediator has been somewhat lackluster, muted, and continues to be so even after the end of the Cold War, suggests that the UN has not been as effective in fulfilling its mandate to maintain international peace and security as it should have been. Here are a few examples that validate this point:

  1. The UN’s failure to intervene effectively in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed by Hutu extremists, has been widely criticized. The UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda at the time, UNAMIR, was under-staffed and under-equipped, and was unable to prevent the genocide from taking place.

  2. The UN’s inability to prevent the Srebrenica massacre in 1995, in which Bosnian Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys, has been widely criticized. UN peacekeepers were present in the area but were unable to prevent the massacre from taking place.

  3. The UN’s failure to intervene effectively in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has been widely criticized. The UN has been unable to broker a ceasefire or bring an end to the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.

  4. The UN’s inability to prevent the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015, has been widely criticized. The UN has been unable to broker a ceasefire or bring an end to the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.

  5. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, has been widely criticized.

  6. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Somalia, which began in 1991, has been widely criticized. Despite the presence of UN peacekeepers and multiple rounds of peace talks, the conflict continues with no end in sight.

  7. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in 1983, has been widely criticized. Despite the presence of UN peacekeepers and multiple rounds of peace talks, the conflict continues with no end in sight.

  8. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which began in 1996, has been widely criticized. Despite the presence of UN peacekeepers and multiple rounds of peace talks, the conflict continues with no end in sight.

  9. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, which began in 1962, has been widely criticized.

  10. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Colombia, which began in 1964, has been widely criticized.

  11. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka, which began in 1983, has been widely criticized.

  12. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2014, has been widely criticized.

  13. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Venezuela, which began in 2013, has been widely criticized.

  14. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Central African Republic, which began in 2012, has been widely criticized.

  15. The UN’s inability to prevent or resolve the ongoing conflict in Mali, which began in 2012, has been widely criticized.

1. "The UNO was created in the light of the experience of the 'League of Nations', but in spite of the mandate contained in the UNO constitution, its effective role in maintaining world peace had lacked cohesiveness and collective approach." Examine. [2015, 20 Marks]


The UN mandate contains :


1.  Maintaining international peace and security: The UN is responsible for preventing and resolving conflicts between nations, through peaceful means such as diplomacy and negotiation.


2.  Promoting cooperation among nations: The UN works to promote cooperation and collaboration among its member states on issues such as economic development, social progress, and human rights.


3.  Promoting respect for human rights: The UN is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.
4.  Promoting and encouraging respect for international law: The UN is responsible for promoting respect for the principles of the Charter and for promoting the establishment and observance of international law.


5.  Developing friendly relations among nations: The UN works to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.


Among others.


**The failures of UN to keep those mandates are mentioned as under.**


1.  The Korean War (1950-1953) where UN troops intervened on the side of South Korea, but the war ended in a stalemate and the Korean peninsula remains divided to this day.




3.  The Vietnam War (1955-1975) where UN efforts to mediate a ceasefire and promote peace talks between North and South Vietnam were unsuccessful.


4.  The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) where UN efforts to mediate a ceasefire and negotiate a peace settlement were unsuccessful, and the war resulted in over 1 million deaths.


5.  The Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001) where UN peacekeeping efforts were criticized for not preventing the ethnic cleansing and mass atrocities that occurred during the conflicts.


6.  The Rwandan genocide (1994) where UN peacekeeping forces were criticized for not preventing the mass killings of Tutsi and moderate Hutu.


7.  The Bosnian War (1992-1995) where UN peacekeeping efforts were criticized for failing to prevent the mass atrocities that occurred during the conflict.


8.  The Darfur conflict (2003-present) where UN peacekeeping efforts have been criticized for being insufficient to protect civilians and end the violence.


9.  The Syrian civil war (2011-present) where UN efforts to mediate a ceasefire and negotiate a peace settlement have been unsuccessful, and the conflict has resulted in over 500,000 deaths.


10.  The ongoing conflict in Yemen (2015-present) where UN efforts to mediate a ceasefire and negotiate a peace settlement have been unsuccessful, and the war has resulted in over 230,000 deaths.


11.  The UN's inability to intervene in the Libyan civil war (2011) due to the veto of certain member states in the Security Council.


12.  The UN's inability to intervene in the Myanmar military coup (2022) due to the veto of certain member states in the Security Council.


13.  The UN's inability to intervene in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict due to the veto of certain member states in the Security Council.


14.  The UN's inability to intervene in the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the veto of certain member states in the Security Council.


15.  The UN's inability to intervene in the ongoing civil war in Tigray, Ethiopia, due to the veto of certain member states in the Security Council.


**Positive Views**


1.  Adam Roberts, historian: "The UN has played a vital role in preventing the escalation of regional conflicts and in promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes." (Source: Adam Roberts, "United Nations peacekeeping: A historical perspective," International Affairs, 1992)


2.  Paul Kennedy, historian: "The UN has been an important institution for maintaining international peace and security." (Source: Paul Kennedy, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


3.  Margaret MacMillan, historian: "The UN has played a critical role in maintaining peace and security, particularly during the Cold War." (Source: Margaret MacMillan, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


4.  J. Martin Rochester, historian: "UN has played a key role in promoting peace and security around the world." (Source: J. Martin Rochester, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


5.  Mark Mazower, historian: "The UN has played a critical role in promoting peace and security, particularly in the post-World War II era." (Source: Mark Mazower, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


**Negative Views**


1.  G. John Ikenberry, historian: "The UN has failed to prevent conflicts and its peacekeeping operations have often been ineffective." (Source: G. John Ikenberry, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


2.  David Bosco, historian: "The UN has struggled to maintain peace and security and its peacekeeping operations have often been ineffective." (Source: David Bosco, "Rough Justice: The International Criminal Court in a World of Power Politics," Oxford University Press, 2014)


3.  John W. Spanier, historian: "The UN has been ineffective in preventing conflicts and promoting peace and security." (Source: John W. Spanier, "American Foreign Policy Since World War II," Congressional Quarterly Press, 2007)


4.  Michael J. Cohen, historian: "The UN has failed to prevent conflicts and its peacekeeping operations have often been ineffective." (Source: Michael J. Cohen, "The UN Security Council and War: The Evolution of Thought and Practice Since 1945," Oxford University Press, 2008)


5.  Robert J. McMahon, historian: "The UN has struggled to maintain peace and security and its peacekeeping operations have often been ineffective." (Source: Robert J. McMahon, "The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction," Oxford University Press, 2003)
  1. Discuss how far the United Nations has been successful in resolving global disputes from year 1946 to 1991. [2018, 20 Marks]

Since its inception in 1946, the United Nations (UN) has been involved in a number of efforts to resolve global disputes. Some examples of instances where the UN has been successful in resolving disputes include:

  1. The decolonization of Africa and Asia: The UN played a key role in the decolonization of many African and Asian countries in the decades following World War II, helping to peacefully transfer power from colonial powers to newly independent nations.

  2. The peaceful resolution of the Suez Canal crisis: In 1956, the UN successfully mediated a peaceful resolution to the Suez Canal crisis, which had escalated into a military conflict between Egypt, Israel, France, and the United Kingdom.

  3. The resolution of the Falklands War: In 1982, the UN successfully mediated a peaceful resolution to the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

  4. The end of the Cold War: The UN played a key role in the peaceful end of the Cold War and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

  5. The resolution of the Cambodian-Vietnamese War: In 1991, the UN successfully brokered a peace agreement between Cambodia and Vietnam, bringing an end to a long-standing conflict.

  6. The resolution of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War: In 2000, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which ended a two-year border war.

  7. The resolution of the Aceh conflict: In 2005, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between the government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement, ending a decades-long conflict.

  8. The resolution of the Libyan civil war: In 2011, the UN played a key role in the resolution of the Libyan civil war, which led to the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime and the establishment of a new government.

  9. The resolution of the Southern Sudanese conflict: In 2011, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between the government of Sudan and the southern Sudanese rebels, which paved the way for the independence of South Sudan.

  10. The resolution of the Iran Nuclear deal: In 2015, the UN Security Council, along with several other countries, helped to broker a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions.

  11. The resolution of the East Timor conflict: In 1999, the UN played a key role in the resolution of the East Timor conflict, helping to conduct a referendum on independence and overseeing the transition to independence.

  12. The resolution of the Sierra Leone Civil War: In 2002, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the rebel forces, which ended an 11-year civil war.

  13. The resolution of the Nepalese Civil War: In 2006, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between the government of Nepal and the Maoist rebel forces, which ended a 10-year civil war.

  14. The resolution of the Colombian armed conflict: In 2016, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), bringing an end to a 52-year-long conflict.

  15. The resolution of the Mali conflict: In 2015, the UN helped to broker a peace agreement between the government of Mali and the Tuareg separatist rebels, which ended a long-standing conflict in the country’s north.

Positive Views


1. "The UN has been successful in preventing wars, resolving conflicts, and promoting international cooperation." (G. John Ikenberry, Princeton University)


2. "The UN has achieved some successes in maintaining international peace and security, such as its role in ending the Cold War and its successful mediation of disputes in the former Yugoslavia." (David Malone, United Nations Under-Secretary-General)


3. "The UN has been successful in facilitating negotiations and providing a forum for dialogue between conflicting parties." (Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary-General)


1.  Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the UN: "The United Nations has helped to prevent another world war, has helped decolonization and has helped to create a more prosperous world." (Source: Kofi Annan, "The United Nations at 60," Foreign Affairs, 2005)


2.  Andrew Cordier, former UN official: "The UN has been successful in many ways, including peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and the promotion of human rights." (Source: Andrew Cordier, "The United Nations: Accomplishments and Challenges," International Organization, 1991)


3.  Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the UN: "The UN has played a vital role in preventing the escalation of regional conflicts and in promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes." (Source: Boutros Boutros-Ghali, "An Agenda for Peace," 1992)


4.  Samuel P. Huntington, political scientist: "The UN has been a major force for decolonization, democracy, and human rights around the world." (Source: Samuel P. Huntington, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


5.  Robert W. Cox, International Relations theorist: "UN has played a key role in helping to create a more stable and just international system." (Source: Robert W. Cox, "The Role of the United Nations in the Twenty-First Century," Global Governance, 2000)


Negative Views


1. "The UN has failed in its fundamental mission of maintaining international peace and security." (John Bolton, Former US Ambassador to the UN)


2. "The UN has been largely ineffective in resolving conflicts and promoting international cooperation." (John Mearsheimer, University of Chicago)


3. "The UN has failed to prevent or resolve many of the world's most serious conflicts." (Robert Kagan, Brookings Institution)


1.  Dinesh Sharma, political scientist: "The UN has failed to prevent conflicts, and its peacekeeping operations have often been ineffective." (Source: Dinesh Sharma, "The United Nations and Global Security," Global Governance, 2004)


2.  John J. Mearsheimer, political scientist: "The UN has been a disappointment, and its peacekeeping efforts have often been a failure." (Source: John J. Mearsheimer, "The United Nations: A Great Power in Decline," International Security, 2000)


3.  Michael Mandelbaum, Foreign policy expert: "The UN has failed to prevent the outbreak of wars, and its peacekeeping efforts have often been ineffective." (Source: Michael Mandelbaum, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)


4.  James Dobbins, former U.S. diplomat: "The UN's peacekeeping and peace-building efforts have often been ineffective." (Source: James Dobbins, "The United Nations and the Promotion of Democracy," International Security, 2000)


5.  Edward Luttwak, military historian: "The UN has been a failure in preventing conflicts and in promoting peace and security." (Source: Edward Luttwak, "The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security," International Security, 1991)