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David Yin Notes on SS

Structure of UN
- Noble experiment in human cooperation (community among nations divided by diverse interestes/attributes)
- Preserve peace and eliminate war
- Remove causes of conflict by encouraging economic, social educational, scientific, cultural progress throughout the world, esp DC
- Safeguard the rights of individuals, ppl, nations
- Decisions do not require unanimous vote
- Security Countil – deal with crisis (any permanent member can veto decision and prevent action from being taken)
- “uniting for peace” resolution permits Security Council veto to be bypassed by General Assembly vote

Economic and Social Council (ECOCOC)
- Projects concerned with health, education, social, economic matters
- Population problems, drug problems, human rights, status of women
- 90% of UN annual expenditure

World Health Organisation(WHO)
- One of most successful agency
- Aims to keep world in “high level of health”
- Improvement of nutrional standards
- Battles against diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy etc (eliminated small pox in 1980s)
- Provides $$ to train doctors, nurses, health workers in DC

UN Educational, Social, Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Encourage spread of literacy
- Foster international cooperation bet scientists, artists of all fields(best way to avoid war is educating the mind in pursuit of peace)
- Setting up schools and teacher-training colleges in DC
- Preserve cultural treasures
- Improve freedom of expression, education, access to science
- However, accused of being inefficient, wasteful, with unacceptable political aims (USA withdrew in 85, Britain+S’pore in 86)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Foster cooperation bet nations to encourage growth of trade/ develop economic potential
- Short-term loans to countries in financial difficulties
- USA, main contributor, attach conditions to loans

Lack of Permanent Army
- Difficult to prevail upon powerful nations to accept its decisions if they choose self-interest
- Rely on member nations to provide troops to enforce decisions
- Depends greatly on leadership of nations that comprise its members

Increased Membership
- Members from Third world a clear majority
- Increasingly difficult for Western/Communist nations to get their resolutions passed through the General Assembly
- Arguments arise

Wastage of Resources
- Some agencies seem to duplicate each other – FAO n WHO overlap too much
- Corruption. Financial mismanagement. Overcharged millions by contractors in oil-for-food programs. Should be responsible for funds entrusted by members
- Damages credibility of UN
- Responsible for shortage of funds
Case study: Oil for food program
- Overpayment by millions. Defeats purpose of program. US$3m to Lloyd Register Inspection Ltd. Inflated renewal of contract

Shortage of Funds
- Entirely dependent on contributions based on general wealth n paying ability
- Many members refused to pay from time to time
- 86, 89 countries owed $$, USA withheld 100m
- 87, main financial contributors granted more control over spending
- USA(30), EU(35), Jpn(11) ¾ expenses.
- Many wealthy states not contributing enough, like Middle East/Persian nations
- Interfering in Belgian Congo Civil War almost bankrupted UN (60-64)
- Require US$4.7B in 2005

Problems, esp involving large nations
- Unable to solve international relations problems, esp Cold war, conflicts bet Arabs/Jews in Middle East
- Indecision and lack of firmness + Veto by permanent members causes long delays before decisive action can be taken
- INTERESTS OF LARGE NATIONs
- Powerless to prevent war or punish warmongers. Teetering on brink of irrelevance
- Interest of western nations in Kuwait’s oil supplies – gave help to chase Saddam Hussain from Kuwait. Cf: East Timor received no/little help
- Ineffective like CON when interests of large nations threatened, and it decide to ignore/defy UN
Case study: eggs for sex scandal
- Corruption. Peacekeepers in Congo traded eggs, milk , cash for sex with women they were sent to protect. Neglect responsibilities as protectors
- Desperate for $$/food. Take advantage of vulnerable, victims of civil war. Disgraceful
- 1000 Congolese die a day cos of hunger and lack of health care. Neglect pressing problems
- Failed to enforce discipline among soldiers. Sexual exploitation. Corruption. Lousy discipline
- Likely to go unpunished. (lack of evidence) not accountable for actions. Home country responsible for them (problems of lack of permanent army)

Case study: Hungarian Rising (56) Czechoslovak Crisis (68)
- Exert independence from Russian control, send troops crush revolt. Russians refused to bow to international pressure or cooperate/ignore. Nothing UN could do

Case study: US-invasion of Iraq
- US (bush) berated UN for not living up to responsibilities by disarming Iraq’s WMD. Acting in place of UN
- Though no support of most members on SC, acting against expressed wishes of majority of international community, US invade Iraq
- Kofi Annan accused US-led invasion as “illegal”. No SC resolution passed to authorize invasion
- UN powerless to stop. As proven in many instances, powerless when acting against wishes of large nation/ interest at stake. Big nations can ditch diplomacy at will
- In failing to stop invasion, compromise safety of Iraqi commoners, fails to help resist unwelcome invasion
- Colin Powell in presenting case to SC that Saddam possess WMD, instructs UN. As if UN listens to what US believes in. Whatever US deems dangerous, UN has to comply and act according to her wishes
- Cannot help rebuild battered Iraq. First, US does not allow, and it has authority. Second, cannot take responsibility for a war it did not support. Yes by not intervening, does not fulfil promise to safeguard safety of Iraqis
- Uncertainty. Helpless in protecting invaded nation. Nobody is granted protection. Since US domination, countries will rather ally USA for protection since UN cannot offer that.
- Exercising of authority threatened by USA. Relinquish role to US as global protector
- TELL USA no nation is bigger than UN(which represent the world). If not it’s useless
- Others nation should not support coalition of willing. Destiny should lie in UN’s power, not a single nation

Benefits/ Usefulness
- World assembly where represensatives from all over 180nations can gather to discuss important issues. Even smallest nations can make themselves heard in a world forum
- Successful in international crisis(esp which did not directly involve interests of large nations) by bringing some wars to end more quickly by arranging ceasefires and negotiations, preventing further conflict. Peacekeeping forces and refugee agencies during war reduces bloodshed/suffering, stabilize regional disputes
- Success in non-political works, like care of refugees, protection of human rights, economic planning, health/pop problems
- Poor are better off
- * Stimulate international cooperation on economic, social, technical matters
Case study: Suez Crisis (56)
- Britain/France/Isarael agrees to withdraw from Egypt after GA condemns invasion and calls for withdrawal. Negotiated a reasonable settlement

Case study: Jews/Arabs Kashmir, Cyprus, West New Guinea
- Pivitol role in negotiations, arranging ceasefires in disputes
- However, often no permanent solution

Case study: Korean War
- Only occasion decisive action in crisis directly involving interest of superpower (Russian delegates absent, unable to veto resolution to send troops)
- UFP
- * US govt already decided to intervene with force before Security Council decision taken – only legitimized it, making it UN operation

Conclusions
- Numerous progressive changes. (grandest achievement being its role in decolonization)
- Humaitarian mission alleviate suffering throughout the world
- Does a good job as a peacekeeper/international mediator. Peace and security
- Less specular aims and impressive results safeguarding human rights and encouraging economic, social, educational, cultural progress, trade and development, environmental protection
- Often unheroic, largely uncelebrated/unknown, but demands respect
- At the same time, sizable gap between aspiration and accomplishment
- Irrational to believe it’s a paragon of success