UN Structure and Peacekeeping Operations Explained

The G-77 and Global Bloc Voting

6. Increase in bloc voting according to economic status or geographical locations.

The G-77 was founded in 1964 and currently has 134 members.

7. In the post–Cold War era, the group has been increasingly marginalized as power shifts back to the Security Council.

The UN Security Council

Main Concern: International Peace and Security

Permanent Members (P5)

The five permanent members hold veto power on all substantive issues:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• France
• China
• Russia

Non-Permanent Members

Ten non-permanent members serve two-year terms, representing five regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe. Current members include: Egypt, Senegal, Ethiopia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Uruguay, Bolivia, Sweden, Italy, and Ukraine.

Operational Dynamics

• Cold War: Often deadlocked due to veto usage.
• Post–Cold War: Increase in activities and meetings, more informal consultations, greater use of consensus decision-making, and an expanded definition of security.

The UN Secretary-General

Current Official: António Guterres (Portugal)

• Former UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2005–2015)
• Prime Minister of Portugal (1995–2002)

Authority and Agenda

The Secretary-General has few formal powers; authority stems mostly from persuasive capability and an aura of neutrality. The post–Cold War era has brought an increasingly activist agenda, focusing on:

• Global warming
• The Darfur conflict
• Preventive diplomacy

Administrative Structure

• The Secretariat continues administrative and budgetary reforms to increase efficiency.
• Nominated by the Security Council and elected by the General Assembly.
• Five-year term (usually serves two terms).
• Cannot be a member of the P5.

Security Council Reform Challenges

Problem: Permanent members do not represent geographic/regional diversity and do not reflect the power of major economic contributors.

Proposed Solutions: Increase the number of permanent members to include Germany and Japan (major donors) and major regional powers (India, Brazil, Nigeria).

Note: These reforms are profoundly unlikely in the absence of a major world war.

UN Peacekeeping Operations

2017-18 Budget: $6.8 Billion

• Less than half of 1% of global military spending.
• Represents 1.3% of America’s annual military budget.
• Total annual budget of the UN is $15 Billion.
• Comparison: American consumers spent $60 Billion on their pets last year.

Who Keeps the Peace?

• 105,314 troops deployed from 130 countries.
• 4.5% of peacekeepers come from EU countries.
• USA has 71 troops, police, and experts on staff.