International organizations

The United Nations

-Powerful of powerless?-

Resume

This paper will be related to international organizations, namely the United Nations. The paper
will focus on the concept of international organization, when they appeared, and what is their
role, as well as how to enter one such organization and how to leave it afterwards, if it no longer
represents the best interest of the member state/states. Then, the paper will focus mostly on the
United Nations. The paper will focus on how the UN appeared, its role, its bodies, and how did
it change the world since it appeared. Moreover, the paper will debate whether or not the UN has
real power, or if it is only a puppet of its members. Though it cannot be any doubt whether or not
the UN has helped the planet since its existence, there is a pattern to the changes which the UN
brought. Namely, the UN was able to function properly and to enact change when the members
of the permanent council were in harmony, and when the organization was mostly focused on
humanitarian aid. Whenever it came to peace keeping, or enforcing peace in a territory, the UN
proved to be inefficient. If the permanent members of the Security Council (Russia, China,
France, United Kingdome and United States) were not in agreement, then the UN could not
possible intervene in a conflict. During the Cold War the UN was not very productive, mostly
because the US and USSR were vetoing each other. The only moment when the UN was able to
intervene in a conflict and enforce peace, was during the Korean War, and they were able to do
that not because the permanent members of the Security Council all agreed upon military
intervention, but because the USSR representative was absent, and the other members were able
to exploit a loophole, thus, voting for intervention. As such, the UN was able to intervene
because one of its core members was willingly absent. The USSR will learn from this event, and
they will not be absent ever again. As such, is the UN a real power on the international stage, or
it is only a puppet, used conveniently by the permanent members when they need to?

INTRODUCTION

International organization are associations of states, more than 3 states, appearing in the middle
and second part of the XIX century. They are important international arena players; however,
states are still the ones which have a leading and supreme role. They are created by states, since
it is in their own best interest to cooperate among each other. International organizations are
based on cooperation, dialog and compromise. Very few are authorized to take enforcement
action against member states which refuse to accomplish their duties. Some, however, have the
means to enforce the rules against violators, such as the UNSC, which can authorize military
action against a state that threatens international peace and security. The WTO can authorize
sanctions, trade related, against the members who violate their commitment, as another example.
Another important principle is the voluntary cooperation, the states needing to sigh to agree to
the rules of the organization to which they want to be part of.
There are two types of international organizations, according to their composition and
membership: universal organizations (UN) and regional organizations (EU). Regional
organizations are smaller, they are based on geographical proximity, members are generally
resembling, they are more hegemonous, and from time to time their boundaries are more
geopolitical than geographical (NATO). On top of this, international organizations can be
separated based on their filed of activity: political and security organizations, and military
security.
For small organizations, treaties are accepted by consensus, but for big organizations it will
require a simple or qualified majority. Treaties can be revised, if the initial conditions under
which the initial treaty was created, change. The dissolution of international organizations is
possible, and done because of several reasons: its fulfillment of its tasks, meaning that the reason
why it was initially created is accomplished, and thus, its existence becomes redundant (the
trusteeship council of the UN is such an example, which upon completion of its duty, overseeing
decoloniazation, was fulfilled); secondly, a dramatic change in the initial conditions, or thirdly,
the need to create a bigger and better organization ( the League of Nations, which is the
predecessor of the UN; it had to be replaced with a better and more powerful organization, since
3

it was unable to stop a new conflict from arising, thus WWII taking place, whereas for all of its
faults, during the UN, WWIII did not, yet, take place).
Regarding withdrawal from an organization by states, it is voluntarily, and can be done at any
given moment, but there can be difficulties in withdrawal, it depends exactly what the treaty of
the organization from which you want to leave says about withdrawal.1

1 Abbott, Kenneth, Duncan Snidal, Why States Act Through Formal International
Organizations, Journal of Conflict Resolution 42 (1), 1998,:332
4

Main Body

Since its establishment in 1945, the United Nations Organization had been central to
international relations. During its 70 years of existence, the UN faced a lot of opportunities and
difficulties, especially during the Cold War era. With its 193 members states, the United Nations
is the biggest organization created in human history, and the center of the greatest effort in order
to prevent new wars, and to help improve the quality of life all over the globe. 2 The UN was
created to prevent a new world war from starting, as well as to fight human rights abuse, poverty
and discrimination. But, the main reason was to maintain international peace and security, to
save succeeding generations from the scourge of war 3. However, in time, the threats the UN had
to face became diverse, for example, environmental degradation, population growth,
urbanization, womens rights, as well as the AIDS pandemic, and least but not last, terrorism,
which became the new major threat to international peace, in an era when wars are fewer and
fewer, and for the most part, restricted to only some parts of the world, not threatening to
overspill and cause chaos in a greater area around them.4
The text of the UN was approved unanimously, and the charter became valid on the 25 th of
October. The organization wanted to integrate the defeated powers, not like in the aftermath of
WWI. The UN completely forbade war, in all of its kinds, with the exception of defense wars;
the Security Council needed to decide who the aggressor was and which was the aggression, as
well as decide on the form of punishment. The Big 5 were considered an aristocratic group, due
to their veto right, the organization being created thinking that the Big 5 will always get along.
Whenever the security council permanent members got along well, the UN enjoyed great
progress, and whenever they did not, the UN was paralyzed, which is exactly what happened
during the Cold War.
2 Thomas G. Weiss and Sam Daws, The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations,
Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 5
3 Ibidem
4 Idem, pp.3-5
5

There are five roles that the UN might play and the effects it is claimed to have in each.
The UN as a tool of the great powers. According to this view, the UN serves its creators, the
great powers of the world. It is a known fact that not all members are equal in the UN, 5
members of the organization being able to block, each one of them, the organization if they so
choose. Thus, the balance of power is greatly disproportional, any one of the permanent members
of the security council being able to side-track the entire organization. Thus, the real power of
the UN is placed in question, since it is possible for only one member, granted a permanent
member of the security council, to undermine the decision of all the other 192 members.
Moreover, if the Big 5 decide to unite, they can easily change the direction of the organization,
being able to veto things which they do not like, and promote then ones which they do like.5
The UN as facilitator of interstate cooperation. According to this perspective, the UNs main
power and area of expertise lies in facilitating inter-state cooperation, and helping states to get
along with one another. The UN can help overcome distrust and foster jointly beneficial action
by serving as an impartial broker. From these actions, the UN tries to solve problems of as many
members as possible, which makes everyone, big or small, better off.6
The UN as governor of society of states. In this view, the UN again promoted cooperation
between states, by acting as a guardian of the principles embodied in its charter and agreed to by
all of its members. Its role is not to be a tool of the great powers, but to help govern an
international order. By upholding norms and values, the UN helps states not simply to cooperate
but to realize a stronger, better international community of the type they proclaimed they wanted
in 1945. 7
The UN as a constructor of the social world. The UN does more than regulate or govern the
actions of others. The UN has generative powers, meaning that it has the ability to constitute or
construct new actors in world politics, create new interests for actors and define international
5 Idem, pp. 43-45
6 Thomas G. Weiss and Sam Daws, The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations,
Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 45-46
7 Idem, pp. 47-48
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tasks. For example, peacekeepers, election monitors and human rights observers are all types of
international actors who were created or authorized by the UN.8
The UN as a structure of legitimation. According to this view, the role of the UN is to
legitimate specific decision, values and principles governing international order. The central idee
here is that all international political orders cannot survive if they are enforced and reproduced
through coercion alone. The UN thus serves to legitimate an existing international order.9
The main structures of the United Nations are: the General Assembly, the Security Council,
ECOSOC, the Secretariat and the International Court of Justice.
General Assembly. The council may discuss any questions or any matters within the scope of
the present charter or relating to the powers and the function of any organs provided in the
present charter, it may make recommendations to the members of the UN or to the Security
Council. Or to both10 . Their budget is based on voluntary contributions. It has peace keeping
and security powers, in as much as it can bring to the attention of the Security Council breaches
in peace and violation of state sovereignty. However, the General Assembly has no power when
international peace is threatened, and when the Security Council is acting to solve the conflict.
Each state in the Assembly is given 1 vote, and it differs for matters of greater or lesser
importance. For important decision, a 2/3 vote is needed, for ordinary issues a 50%+1 vote is
needed. Its decision are not binding, only advisory.11
ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council). The goals of this council are the increase in the
standard of living, fighting unemployment and ensuring economic and social cooperation. It is

8 Idem, pp. 48-50

9 Idem, pp. 50-52
10 Charter of the United Nations, Chapter IV, Art. 10
11 Thomas G. Weiss and Sam Daws, The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations,
Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 102-104
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elected by the GA, and has a limited composition, 54 all decision are taken by a simple majority
vote, each state having 1 vote.12
The Security Council. It represent the main executive authority of the United Nations. All
member states must follow the orders of the council, they having legal binding authority. Its
primary responsibility is the maintenance of international peace and security, allowing the
council to order military interventions, embargoes or any other military action which it considers
necessary to defend peace and order. It has 15 non-permanent members, which are selected by
the GA for 2 years, and 5 permanent members (United States of America, United Kingdome,
France, China and Russia). There is a double veto situation on the council. In order for decision
to be taken, 9/15 members need to vote for, but for bigger issues 9/15 and all the permanent
members need to vote for. In case 1 permanent member votes against, then the decision is
stopped. With few exceptions, the Security Council was divided and marginalized during the
Cold War, not being able to efficiently manage its role as a global peace and order keeper. With
the coming to power of Mikhail Gorbachef in Moscow in 1958, and his reforms regarding super
power confrontation, the climate in the Security Council changed considerably, the permanent
members again working with each other.13
The Secretariat + Secretary General. Appointed by the GA, for a 5 year mandate, which can
be doubled. He is the highest public servant, and will coordinate with the composing bodies of
the UN. He is leading the secretariat and all the staff members get orders from him, having
financial powers. The secretariat must organize conferences, manage peace keeping conferences
as well as disputes.14
The International Court of Justice. Before the establishment of a permanent court, states used ad hoc
arbitration where necessary to resolve international disputes between them. The court may hear both
contentious and advisory cases. Only states may be parties to contentious cases and only if they agree to
consent to the jurisdiction of the Court. The courts advisory jurisdiction allows for the GA or the SC to
12 Idem, pp. 136-138
13 Thomas G. Weiss and Sam Daws, The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations,
Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 117, 120-121
14 Idem, pp. 161-189
8

request the court to give an advisory opinion on any legal question. 15 The court consists of a body of
independent judges, fifteen in total, no two of whom may be nationals of the same state. Elections take
place every three years, five new judges been elected each time. They are elected by an absolute majority
of the GA and the SC, voting independently from a list of nominees. What is important is that the veto of
the Security Council does not apply, which assures a certain degree of independence of the judges, since
they do not have to be liked by one of the permanent members, or to be sympathetic to a case in which a
permanent member is involved.16

Ever since its creation, there was doubt whether or not the organization will function properly.
The fact that the United States and the USSR both were part of the Security Council, and both
had veto rights from the very beginning created a strong conflict of interests for the organization.
During the Cold War and the division between the Western bloc and the Easter bloc, the UN
showed its true colors, namely the fact that it was powerful and useless at managing the most
important attribute on its agenda and Charta, the maintaining of international peace and security.
The UN was not able to act in key moment during the Cold War, namely in the Berlin blockade,
the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Prague Spring and the Vietnam War. The reason was that each time,
a member of the Security Council, any one of the permanent 5, were vetoing against
intervention. The only reason why the council was able to act during the Korean War was due to
the fact that Soviet Union was boycotting the Council, and as such, since the Charta was not
specific, the other members exploited USSRs absence, and voted for intervention. Despite the
fact that the situation started to normalize after the coming to power of the new soviet leader,
Mikhail Gorbachev, it cannot be ignored the fact that the UN proved in its greatest hour of need
to be useless. Only Mutually Assured Destruction was the element which stopped WW III from
happening, not the actions of the organization. If there had not been such a balance of power, and
each country understanding that they had the capabilities to blow the enemy apart, but also the
enemy was able to do the same thing, the world would again had been plunged in war. 17The UN
15 Idem. Pp. 193-196
16 Idem. 196-198
17 Justin Morrisa and Nicholas J. Wheelerb, The Security Councils Crisis of
Legitimacy and the use of Force, Palgrave Macmillan, 2007
9

is praised as being a huge improvement to the League of Nations, and though there are a lot of
good new things about the new organization, it is of utmost importance to understand that the
UN is powerless when its permanent members do not work together. WWIII might have started,
and now the world might have been rebuilding after it, and in this scenario, the UN would have
been regarded as a failure.
This does not, however, take away any of the good things which the UN was able to do during its
70 years of existence. One such accomplishment is that there has been no new world war, or any
major war since the organization was created. The end of colonization and the achievement of
sovereign independence came within a decade or two, whereas many were expecting to last
almost a century. In developing countries, average life expectance has doubles since 1930; child
mortality has been lowered by more than 75%, as well as an increase in literacy. 18 Malnutrition
has been reduced in all regions of the world with the exception of Africa, as well as the
eradication of smallpox, polio and the guinea worm. Enormous progress has been made with the
approval of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and eventually the enforcing of these
rights. Though there is a difference between adopting and enforcing, you can not possible
enforce something which does not exist. As such, the adoption of these rights eventually made it
possible for them to be enforced, and for the UN to supervise whether or not they are respected
in the countries which adopted them.19
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, though the UN has certainly let its print for the good in human history, and though
it has improved the lives of millions, if not billions of people, we must not be fooled into
thinking that the organization is anything more than a fragile understanding between the great
powers of the world. As mentioned above, the world could have ended several decades ago,
during the Cuban missile crisis, or other major events during the Cold War, which could have
changed the nature of the war from cold to hot. The primary reason for the existence of this
organization is the maintaining of international peace and security. Economic growth, increase in
18 Thomas G. Weiss and Sam Daws, The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations,
Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 12
19 Idem, pp. 11-13
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literacy, and the improvement of the quality of life are not important, if the organization fails to
prevent WW III from happening. If it fails, like its predecessor, due to fights among the
permanent members of the security council, then all the good which it has achieved so far will be
for nothing, since a new global war will put an end to them, and the world, if it managed to
survive a new war, will once more have to rebuild itself. Thus, if real change is to occur, if the
UN is to become a real international power, and not just an instrument used at the whim of one
of its permanent members, it needs to change the status of the permanent members. Otherwise,
there will always be that 1 state, which will have the power to oppose the rest, and decide the
fate of everyone.

Bibliography
Thomas G. Weiss and Sam Daws, The Oxford Handbook on the
United Nations, Oxford University Press, 2009
Justin Morrisa and Nicholas J. Wheelerb, The Security Councils
Crisis of Legitimacy and the use of Force, Palgrave Macmillan,
2007
Abbott, Kenneth, Duncan Snidal, Why States Act Through
Formal

International

Organizations,

Resolution 42 (1), 1998

Charter of the United Nations

11

Journal

of

Conflict

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