Announcements Political Science Political Science

Student Association Student Association PUB NIGHT!PUB NIGHT!

TONIGHT, 8:30 PMTONIGHT, 8:30 PM Weaver’s Arms Weaver’s Arms

(268 Phillip St. in the (268 Phillip St. in the Phillip St. Townhouses)Phillip St. Townhouses)

FREE POOL, FREE FREE POOL, FREE DRINKS AND FREE DRINKS AND FREE FOOD!FOOD!

YMCA of Kitchener “THE NEVERENDING

STORY: A SYMPOSIUM ON POVERTY AND RELATED GLOBAL ISSUES”

Thursday, Feb.5th 2004 7:30 pm

Ontario Early Years Centre (University Ave. and Bridge St.)

Coffee and Dessert – FREE RSVP –

international@kwymca.org

International Organizations

Security -- The United Nations

February 5th --2004

Managing Interdependence -- The United Nations establishment

precursor – League of Nations (1919)

established 1945 primary objective – peace and

security preamble of the UN Charter

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED... to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our

lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the

human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,AND FOR THESE ENDS... to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good

neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that

armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social

advancement of all peoples,HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS.

The United Nations – What is It? Chpt.1, Article 2, 1: The Organization is based on the

principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members. organization of voluntary member countries

"Membership in the United Nations is open to all peace-loving states which accept the obligations of the Charter and, in the judgement of the Organization, are willing and able to carry out these obligations.”

51 countries in 1945• including US and Iraq!

191 countries in 2003• including US and Iraq!

based on the “sovereign equality” of each of its member

The United Nations – Aims and Functions primary objective – peace and security

recognition of the interrelated nature of various spheres of interdependence

security dependent upon other aspects (rights, social progress, etc.)

multiple areas of focus security (UN Security Council) economic development (UN Development Program) health (World Health Organization) human rights (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human

Rights) refugees (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees) women (UN Development Fund for Women) children (UN Children’s Fund)

The UN Security Council powers and functions

Chpt.5, Article 24, 1: ...its Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.

Chpt.7, Article 43, 1: All Members of the United Nations...undertake to make available to the Security Council, on its call...armed forces...necessary for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.

main difference with former League of Nations

The UN Security Council organizational structure

15 members 5 permanent

US, Great Britain, France, Russia, China each holds veto power

10 rotating members elected from UN General Assembly two year terms Chile, Germany, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Spain,

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Brazil decisions on substantial matters

requires nine votes votes of all five permanent nations

The United Nations – What is It? is it a world government?

no direct relationship with people of member countries not directly elected by the people or accountable to them link between “the people” and the UN in many cases is through

non-democratic governments has no ability to tax or raise revenues

dues on each member country based on country’s share of the world economy

29% of countries not paying dues in full or on time largest share (38%) of unpaid dues attributed to US (UN

Wepbage)• however, US pays highest dues (22% of UN budget)

has no independent military no way to independently enforce its decisions

The United Nations – What is It? result?

can only undertake activities that its members agree to and only to the extent that they provide the resources to do so

especially dependent on those that provide the most resources

only wields influence to the degree that membership broadly or individual members of specific importance (e.g. US) accept its legitimacy

The UN and the Iraq Situation: An Illustration

UN Security Council & the Iraq Situation

Resolution 687 (1991) Iraq shall unconditionally accept removal of

weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and related production facilities

provides for establishment of a system of ongoing monitoring and verification of Iraq’s compliance

Resolution 1441 (November 2002) finds Iraq in material breach of SC Res687 provides “final opportunity” to comply with

disarmament obligations Security Council to convene if Iraq fails to

comply warns that Iraq faces “serious consequences”

UN Security Council & the Iraq Situation

proposed resolution US, UK, Spain “...Iraq has failed to take the final

opportunity afforded to it in resolution 1441.”

memorandum opposing use of force France, Germany, Russia

• conditions for using force against Iraq have not been fulfilled

• calls for “reinforced inspections”

UN Security Council & the Iraq Situation

US, UK and Spain rescind proposed resolution on March 17th

Why?• would not pass

– France vows to veto

– also unclear if support sufficient to pass even in absence of French veto

• if the resolution is defeated, use of force would be clearly contrary to the wishes of UN Security Council

US argues that use of force legal under Resolution 687

48 hour warning issued Monday, March 17th

first missiles launched March 19th

Iraq and WMD http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/p

olitics/05MILI.html http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/in

ternational/europe/05BRIT.html http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/in

ternational/europe/05SPAI.html

The UN Charter and the Iraq Situation Chpt.1, Article 2, 4: All Members shall refrain in their

international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state...

cannot base UN-sanctioned military action on the basis of human rights violations against domestic population or lack of domestic democratic institutions

UN Security Council Members (Freedom House Freedom Rating)

Angola – Not Free Bulgaria – Free Cameroon – Not Free Chile – Free China – Not Free France – Free Germany – Free Guinea – Not Free Mexico – Free Pakistan – Not Free Russia – Partly Free Spain – Free Syria – Not Free

• among top 9 worst rated countries in the world UK – Free US – Free

The UN Charter and the Iraq Situation Chpt.5, Article 25: The Members of the United

Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.

however, President Bush publicly stated that the UN Security Council had “failed to do its duty” – a rejection of Article 25

The UN Charter and the Iraq Situation Chpt.7, Article 39: The Security Council shall

determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken...to maintain or restore international peace and security. Article 51: Nothing in the present Charter shall impair

the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations...

presents a serious challenge to new US policy of preemption

UN Security Council & the Iraq Situation

serious challenge to the UN argument that Security Council has to

be reformed if the UN is not to become irrelevant in US foreign policy

emphasizes that the UN cannot enforce its decisions without the support of its members

and, most importantly, the US! the denouement

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/04/politics/04DIPL.html

...the Paper Proposal!