The United The United NationsNations

Why?Why? Prevent future warsPrevent future wars Replaced the League of Nations after Replaced the League of Nations after

WWII (1945)WWII (1945)

HistoryHistory 1945: San Francisco hosted the 1945: San Francisco hosted the

United Nations Conference on United Nations Conference on International OrganizatioInternational Organizatio

50 countries represented including: 50 countries represented including: United States, France, United United States, France, United Kingdom, Soviet Union (now Russia), Kingdom, Soviet Union (now Russia), and Chinaand China

These five countries are known as These five countries are known as the “Permanent Five” members.the “Permanent Five” members.

What does the United Nations Do?What does the United Nations Do? maintain international peace maintain international peace

and securityand security maintain friendly relationships maintain friendly relationships

between countriesbetween countries promotes economic promotes economic

development of member development of member nationsnations

Who and Where?Who and Where? Currently 191 countries in the UNCurrently 191 countries in the UN Headquarters in NYCHeadquarters in NYC The International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice

(ICJ) is located in The Hague in the (ICJ) is located in The Hague in the Netherlands.Netherlands.

UN World HeadquartersUN World HeadquartersNew YorkNew York

Parts of the United NationsParts of the United Nations1. 1. The General AssemblyThe General Assembly – the ‘town – the ‘town

meeting’ of the world.meeting’ of the world.

2. 2. UN Security CouncilUN Security Council – maintains world – maintains world peace (most powerful branch)peace (most powerful branch)

3. 3. Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council - works with - works with the UN’s economic, cultural, health and the UN’s economic, cultural, health and educational activities.educational activities.

4. 4. Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council - territories - territories

5. 5. ICJICJ – International Court of Justice – International Court of Justice

6. 6. The SecretariatThe Secretariat – administrative duties – administrative duties and can bring any topic before the SCand can bring any topic before the SC

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeThe Hague, NetherlandsThe Hague, Netherlands

The General AssemblyThe General Assembly Every member nation has a Every member nation has a

seat at the General Assembly.seat at the General Assembly. Brings up international issues Brings up international issues

that they want the Security that they want the Security Council to deal withCouncil to deal with

Holds elections for Security Holds elections for Security Council members and other Council members and other leadersleaders

The General AssemblyThe General AssemblyInside UN HeadquartersInside UN Headquarters

UN Security CouncilUN Security Council Made up of 15 countries:Made up of 15 countries:

• The “Permanent Five” countriesThe “Permanent Five” countries• 10 non-permanent countries (elected 10 non-permanent countries (elected

every two years)every two years) The strong-arm of the UNThe strong-arm of the UN Maintains international peaceMaintains international peace How does it do this:How does it do this:

• Recommends peaceful negotiations Recommends peaceful negotiations (peace talks)(peace talks)

• Can use Economic SanctionsCan use Economic Sanctions• Can use Military SanctionsCan use Military Sanctions

The UN Security CouncilThe UN Security CouncilInside World HeadquartersInside World Headquarters

SanctionsSanctions Sanctions are used to punish a Sanctions are used to punish a

country for violating international country for violating international law. They can be used to force a law. They can be used to force a country to follow a law.country to follow a law.

In order for sanctions to be used In order for sanctions to be used by the UN Security Council, ALL by the UN Security Council, ALL FIVE permanent members must FIVE permanent members must have a unanimous vote.have a unanimous vote.

Types of SanctionsTypes of Sanctions Diplomatic SanctionsDiplomatic Sanctions – removal – removal

of all political ties (like of all political ties (like embassies)embassies)

Economic SanctionsEconomic Sanctions – ban on all – ban on all trade with a country (except trade with a country (except food)food)

Military SanctionsMilitary Sanctions – using a – using a military to force compliance.military to force compliance.

Military SanctionsMilitary Sanctions UN PeacekeepersUN Peacekeepers – a group of armed – a group of armed

soldiers sent to a hostile area to promote soldiers sent to a hostile area to promote peace. They ARE NOT COMBAT TROOPS.peace. They ARE NOT COMBAT TROOPS.

These soldiers maintain peace. These soldiers maintain peace. They don’t go on combat missions.They don’t go on combat missions. They are not an ‘army’They are not an ‘army’

UN Military ForceUN Military Force – an army made up of – an army made up of soldiers from more than one UN country soldiers from more than one UN country that can serve as combat troops.that can serve as combat troops.• They are not very effective and are not used They are not very effective and are not used

very often.very often.

UN PeacekeepersUN PeacekeepersThey always wear They always wear blue beretsblue berets or or blue helmetsblue helmets

to identify themselves.to identify themselves.

Major UN MissionsMajor UN Missions East TimorEast Timor (Asia) – the UN supervised the (Asia) – the UN supervised the

independence of this countryindependence of this country IraqIraq (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all

trade with Iraq after it failed to comply trade with Iraq after it failed to comply with international law, but some nations with international law, but some nations continued to trade with them.continued to trade with them.

SomaliaSomalia (Africa) – UN humanitarian (Africa) – UN humanitarian mission to get food and supplies to mission to get food and supplies to people in needpeople in need

HaitiHaiti (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen government, army, and hold electionsgovernment, army, and hold elections

Strengths of the UNStrengths of the UN Provides a forum for almost all of the Provides a forum for almost all of the

world’s nations to discuss world’s nations to discuss international issuesinternational issues

Humanitarian effortsHumanitarian efforts• AIDSAIDS• Landmine removalLandmine removal• Food and supply organizationFood and supply organization

Peacekeeping forcesPeacekeeping forces Will get involved with messes that no Will get involved with messes that no

one else willone else will

Weaknesses of the UNWeaknesses of the UN Sanctions are only effective if ALL Sanctions are only effective if ALL

countries follow them countries follow them Military force is rarely used and is usually Military force is rarely used and is usually

ineffectiveineffective ALL permanent members of the security ALL permanent members of the security

council have to vote unanimously (one council have to vote unanimously (one country can stop a sanction)country can stop a sanction)

Inadequate funding by member nationsInadequate funding by member nations• 14 ountries ay 85% of the subscriptions 14 ountries ay 85% of the subscriptions

(membership fee)(membership fee) Big gap between developing and Big gap between developing and

industrialized nationsindustrialized nations

UN Analysis QuestionsUN Analysis Questions

What do you think the world would What do you think the world would be like without the United Nations?be like without the United Nations?

UN Analysis Questions (cont)UN Analysis Questions (cont) Which part of the United Which part of the United

Nations would you put the Nations would you put the most money towards? Why?most money towards? Why?

What are some alternatives to What are some alternatives to economic and military economic and military sanctions if they don’t work?sanctions if they don’t work?