Understanding the United Nations: Key Bodies and Functions

SBQ: United Nations

1. UNGA

• Characteristics

> 193 members with one vote each → equality

> Tendency for voting groups/blocs/alliances, especially with superpower rivalry

> Composition of members will determine if a resolution is passed

> Struggle for power between the GA and SC in issues of peace and security

• 45-60: pro-West (Cold War context)

> Growth of GA

> Accelerating decolonization

> Increased influence, bypassing SC with Uniting for Peace Resolution in 1950

> Can recommend the use of force

> Easier for the US to push its own agendas

• 65-91: anti-West (↑ Third World, decolonization, pro-Soviet)

> 3rd world own agenda, members were unstable, poor & socially divided

• Post 1991: open universal membership

> Marginalization of GA

> GA was verbally condemned for being anti-Israeli/American, supportive of terrorist freedom fighters

> US failed to achieve its goals e.g. in 1971, China took over Taiwanese China's seat in UNSC with support from non-aligned members

> US withdrew aid to undeveloped nations in the 1980s, which led to an economic recession

> Increased conflict, poor countries continue demands & generally followed USSR against rich West

• Strengths: Uniting for Peace Resolution, weight of world opinion, global moral authority
• Weaknesses

> Slow, inefficient, and wasteful decision-making

> Ineffective talk shop

> Disunity due to various voting blocs which led to 'Automatic Majority', particularly in the 1950s

> Competition against SC due to non-binding resolutions

2. UNSC

• Characteristics

> 5 permanent members: UK, France, US, USSR, China that had the power of veto

• Limitations

> Often failed to ensure peace when a major power is involved

> Benign neglect to issues not relevant to major powers

> Despite the veto preventing abuse of power, actions were restricted, ineffective when PM disagree with one another

> Vetoes used to keep opposition allies from joining the UN

- US vetoed membership applications by Angola & North Vietnam as they were backed by USSR

3. UNSG

• Characteristics

> Article 99 states the SG may bring to the attention of the SC any matter that affects the maintenance of international peace & security

• Trygve Lie, 49-52, Norway
• Dag Hammarskjold, 53-61, Sweden
• U Thant, 61-71, Burma
• Kurt Waldheim, 72-82, Austria
• Javier Perez de Cuellar, 82-91, Peru
• Boutros Boutros Ghali, 92-96, Egypt
• Kofi Annan, 97-06, Ghana

4. ICJ

Effectiveness

> Limited jurisdiction as only states & UN institutions are eligible

> ICJ arbitration is non-compulsory and requires both parties’ consent

> Enforcement dependent on SC

> Expensive & time-consuming process

> Lack of confidence in the Court’s ruling

- seen as Western-centric in early years so many new states did not trust the IC

- seen as useful to the Third World later as ICJ does not represent superpower interests and hence are unbiased

> Unpredictability of the Court’s decisions

- uncertainty of the law & fear of loss of control over outcomes in cases

> Useful process in influencing the state of disputes

- gradual acceptance of world opinion

> Useful in isolating disputes & prevent worsening of relations

- among friendly states