International organisations class 12 notes

International organisations are helpful in another way. Nations can usually see that there are some things they must do together. There are issues that are so challenging that they can only be dealt with when everyone works together Disease is an example. Some diseases can only be eradicated if everyone in the world cooperates in inoculating or vaccinating their populations. Or take global warming and its effects. As temperatures rise because of the increase in greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere, there is a danger that sea levels will also rise, thereby submerging many coastal areas of the world including huge cities. Of course, each country can try to find its own solution to the effects of global warming. But in the end a more effective approach is to stop the warming itself. This requires at least all of the major industrial powers to cooperate.

 

EVOLUTION OF THE UN

The First World War encouraged the world to invest in an international organisation to deal with conflict. Many believed that such an organisation would help the world to avoid war. As a result, the League of Nations was born. However, despite its initial success, it could not prevent the Second World War (1939-45). Many more people died and were wounded in this war than ever before.

The UN was founded as a successor to the League of Nations. It was established 'in 1945 immediately after the Second World War. The organisation was set up through the signing of the United Nations Charter by 51 states, It tried to achieve what the League could not between the two world wars. The UN's objective is to prevent international conflict and to facilitate cooperation among states. It was founded with the hope that it would act to stop the conflicts between states escalating into war and, if war broke out, to limit the extent of hostilities. Furthermore, since conflicts often arose from the lack of social and economic development, the UN was intended to bring countries together to improve the prospects of social and economic development all over the world.

REFORM OF THE UN AFTER THE COLD WAR

Reform and improvement are fundamental to any organisation to serve the needs of a changing environment. The UN is no exception. In recent years, there have been demands for reform of the world body. However, there is little clarity and consensus on the nature of reform.

Two basic kinds of reforms face the UN reform of the organisation's structures and processes; and a review of the issues that fall within the

 jurisdiction of the organisation, Almost everyone is agreed that both aspects of reform are necessary. What they cannot agree on is precisely what is to be done. how it is to be done, and when it is to be done.

1. On the reform of structures, and processes, the biggest Council. Related to this has been functioning of the Security discussion has been on the the demand for an increase in the UN Security Council's permament SO that the realities of and non-permanent membership contemporary world politics are better reflected, in the structure of there are proposals to increase the organisation. In particular, membership from Asia, Africa and South America, Beyond this, the US and other Western countries want improvements in the UN's budgetary procedures and its administration.

2.After the Cold War. those realities are different, Here are some of the changes that have occurred:

The Soviet Union has collapsed.

The US is the strongest power.

The relationship between Russia, the successor to the Soviet Union, and the US is much more cooperative.

China is fast emerging as a great power, and India also is growing rapidly.

The economies of Asia are growing at an unprecedented rate.

Many new countries have joined the UN (as they became independent from the Soviet Union or former communist states in eastern Europe).

REFORM OF STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES UN

While the case for reform has widespread support, getting agreement on what to do is difficult. Let us examine the debate over reform of the UN -Security Council, In 1992, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution. The resolution reflected three main complaints:

1. The Security Council no longer represents contemporary political realities. 

2. Its decisions reflect only Western values and interests and are dominated by a few powers-

3. It lacks equitable representation.

Some of the criteria that have been proposed for new permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council. A new member, it has been suggested, should be:

A major economic power 

A major military power 

A substantial contributor to the UN budget

A big nation in terms of its population

A nation that respects democracy and human rights

A country that would make the Council more representative of the world's diversity in terms of geography, economic systems, and culture

JURISDICTION OF THE UN

The question of membership is a serious one. In addition, though, there are more substantial issues before the world. As the UN completed 60 years of its existence, the heads of all the member-states met in September 2005 to celebrate the anniversary and review the situation, The leaders in this meeting decided that the following steps should be taken to make the UN more relevant in the changing context.

Creation of a Peacebuilding Commission

Acceptance of the responsibility of the international community in case of failures of national governments to protect their own citizens from atrocities

Establishment of a Human Rights Council (operational since 19 June 2006).

Agreements to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 

Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations

Creation of a Democracy Fund

An agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council