United Nations Overview World History Sobotta Forerunner League

United Nations Overview World History – Sobotta

Forerunner • League of Nations – 1919: Treaty of Versailles – “Promote cooperation and achieve peace and security. ” – 3 reasons it failed • No U. S. • USSR Non-Committal • No “teeth”

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

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?

United Nations Purpose

UN Purposes UN Charter: • INTERNATIONAL peace, security – Solve international problems – Friendly relations – Respect human rights • 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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.

General Assembly • All members: one seat, one vote • Sept-Dec • Decision Making – Want Consensus – Settle for vote (majority or 2/3)

Security Council • Anytime peace threatened • 15 members – 5 Permanent – 10: 2 -year terms • 9/15 vote • “Permanent” Veto

The “UN System” • 6 main committees • 30 affiliated organizations (IMF, World Bank, WHO) • 9000 employees • Secretariat • Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Republic of Korea

Key U. N. Agencies • World Health Organization – Monitoring & information; coordination; research/drugs. • Unicef – UN Children’s Fund • UNHCR – Support for refugees. • IAEA – Atomic energy safety & security. • WTO – World Trade Organization • IMF – International Monetary Fund – Emergency loans. • World Bank – Development loans.

• Carrots – Ceasefire and/or truce. – Peacekeepers to separate warring parties. – Mediation: Negotiate peace plans. – “Safe areas” and humanitarian relief. – Financial Assistance. • Sticks – Political Sanctions: No participation. – Economic Sanctions: Restricted trade, loans. – Investigations and criminal tribunals. – “No Fly” Zone. – Endorse military intervention.