The United Nations (U.N.) is the most prominent international organization in the world, with over 193 members. The U.N. was first created at the end of WWII in 1945. When the U.N. was first founded, it only had 51 members. These countries formed a union dedicated to ensuring international peace and security. Since then, the influence of the U.N. in international relations has grown drastically. The organization is involved in nurturing friendly relations between countries. They are highly concerned with the social injustices found in the world. To combat these, they foster good relationships between nations and use diplomacy to advance social progress. Social progress goals are often met through better living standards and improved human rights. During this article, we will examine the effectiveness and impact of the U.N. regarding their work in international relations management.
The U.N. as a Force for Good
The U.N. has a global impact on society. The organization’s mammoth size helps ensure it can reach almost every geographical area on earth. The group has worked for the good of humanity through its peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention efforts. The U.N. provides humanitarian assistance on a grand scale through its specialized agencies, funds, and programs. The U.N. has directly maintained peace through peacekeeping missions and conflict resolution efforts. It is an elite organization focusing on a broad range of social crises. They have numerous sectors that handle sustainable development, disaster relief, counter-terrorism, promoting democracy, human rights, and gender equality. The U.N. is a diverse non-governmental organization that works to advance women, governance, and economic and social development. Through all of these efforts, the U.N. has contributed to peace and stability in the world.
One of the most significant achievements of the U.N. includes its role in creating the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC was founded based on the agreement of 160 countries over 25 years ago, on 17 July 1998. This historical conference advocated for the introduction of the first treaty-based permanent international criminal court. This arm of global justice is known as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The U.N. as a Force for Evil
The United Nations is considered one of the most influential and powerful international organizations. The number of members subscribed to this organization makes it easy for them to influence international relations. Due to this status, the U.N. often has to make decisions surrounding critical global events. The outcomes of these events will inevitably be unfavorable for some nations. It is impossible to please both sides, especially in conflict. The overarching theme of the U.N. is promoting peace and security among humanity.
The U.N. has often been criticized for failing to ‘save’ everyone. The organization is known for intervening in the interests of powerful western countries while ignoring other genuine plights around the globe. The U.N. may have committed terrible atrocities by choosing a side in a war without fully understanding the complexities. The organization failed to prevent the mass genocides that occurred in Rwanda on 6 April 1994. During this period, over one million people are believed to have died. The U.N. failed to get involved and only provided refuge for thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutus in their secure U.N. sites. Some argue that the U.N. is a force for evil; however, the mission, aims, and humanitarian goals often drive personnel who work for the U.N.
The Future of the U.N.
The U.N. has been under the spotlight in recent years for the wrong reasons. Numerous groups have come out and criticized the way the organization is run. Looking at its governance and structures, many find it difficult to believe they are well equipped to handle global threats like terrorism and climate change. It has faced many scandals surrounding inappropriate workplace treatment and sexual violence. The rate of trust in the U.N. has decreased. Many non-influential member countries have raised concerns; however, their voices are seldom appreciated.
Going into the future, the U.N. needed to set out a new pathway to return its name to a good reputation. A moral, social contract binds the U.N. This goodwill is why many countries trust the presence of the U.N. in times of crisis. The U.N. is therefore seeking a renewal of the social contract. They intend to focus on preserving human rights to rebuild trust and improve social cohesion.
The U.N. has often been branded as a senior organization. Many of the leading figures have been in their position for years. This lack of youth representation made the organization appear unfavourable to the youth in an increasingly young population. The U.N. is therefore moving to rejuvenize the organization by deepening solidarity with the world’s young people and future generations.
The signs of climate change are being reported globally. There are high seas, unstable atmospheres, melting iceblocks in Antarctica, and a global public health crisis. The U.N. intends to take a hard stance and immediate action to protect the environment.
The U.N. intends to change its bureaucratic approach to governance. This U.N. upgrade is meant to be adapted to the modern era. The system was designed to ensure a more relevant system-wide, multilateral, and multi-stakeholder approach to governance in the 21st century.
Conclusion
The U.N. is an organization that was created to keep peace throughout the world and ensure there are good diplomatic ties among nations. The organization has a humanitarian mission to better the lives of the vulnerable in society, allowing for more appropriate use of our rights and freedoms. Despite their good intentions, this organization could be better and can make mistakes. It is difficult to satisfy everyone worldwide; however, the U.N. has pledged to do more to be more relevant to modern struggles.
