POLS2133 Study Guide - Final Guide: United Nations System, Small Island Developing States, United Nations Human Rights Council
(WK 3) THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM
What is the UN?
If you’ve never heard of the UN…
-The of global governance; near-universal membership; broadest possible agenda
-“The central site of multilateral diplomacy” (Karns and Mingst).
-Trite example” Leaders week” – The opening of the (Autumn) General Assembly
session in New York. A big deal the world of diplomacy…EVERYONE is there
The UN Principal organs:
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Secretariat
5. International Court of Justice
6. Trusteeship Council
The history
Established in the dying days of WWII. Everyone was tired – wanted an organisation
that would help prevent future world war, and promote economic and social
cooperation
-Aug 1941: Atlantic Charter (Roosevelt and Churchill)
-Jan 1942: “Declaration by United Nations” (=Allies)
-1944: Drafting of UN Charter (Dumberton Oaks, DC)
-Jul. 1945: US Senate ratifies
Fashioned after the League of Nations, with reforms to address major failings
(e.g. unanimity requirement)
-Can you spot the neoliberal institutionalist logics in these motivations?
What actually is the UN?
Founding document: UN Charter (1945)
Two components :
-A set of rules for how states should behave
-A formal organisation with its own powers
Mandate: international peace and security; social and economic development
-Closest thing to a constitution for the entire international system. From 51 193
members
-Arts 102-103: every other treaty is subordinate
Core principles and the UN Charter
The Charter - signed in 1945, created two distinct things:
1. A set of basic rules of conduct for governments
2. Formal organization with its own powers
The Charter defines the UN as a formal institution of limited powers as well as a
generalized system of constitutional principles to govern all of inter-state politics
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Each organ of the UN has a distinct sphere of operation and a set of powers that is
delimited by the Charter
First and foremost is “sovereign equality” of member states. In terms of legal rights
and obligations, there is no higher power – but les me clear, inequality is baked into
the UN system
To states: Don’t use/threaten force; carry out UNSC decisions; pay membership
dues; uphold treaty
To the UN (and everything it does): Respect non-intervention; the UN cannot
interfere with states’ internal affairs
-Practical impact is governmental consent is required for the UN to operate. But
what is “international” and what is “domestic”? These definitions are changing…
-Key exception: matters of “peace enforecement”
The Charter tries to achieve a balance between two conflicting commitments
by states:
(1) to act collectively against another member state, in the interests of international
peace and security; and
(2) to respect the long-standing principle of state sovereignty (from the 17th century
Peace of Westphalia)
Three bits of the UN system you’ve (probably) never heard of
UN-Habitat (GA): UN Centre for Human Settlements, “to promote socially and
environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of
adequate shelter for all” (website, see UNGA 56/206 (2001)).
UN-OHRLLS (Secretariat): Office of the High Representative for the Least
Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island
Developing States “to assist the Secretary-General in ensuring the full mobilization
and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system, with a view to facilitating
the coordinated implementation of and coherence in the follow-up and monitoring of
the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries” (website, see UNGA
56/227 (2001)).
UNGEGN (Economic and Social Council): United Nations Group of Experts on
Geographical Names, “provide technical recommendations on standardizing
geographical names at the national and international levels” (website).
The UN is and does a lot of things and there is no single, simple story to tell
But the basic tensions – how does an institution that is subordinate to states
successfully regulate its masters’ behaviour – manifests constantly (and
abundantly) when analysing the UN system
As you proceed, ask yourself: Under what conditions is the UN able to shape states’
behaviour and affect outcomes we care about? And through what mechanisms does it
do this?
Or is yours a story where other factors, such as fear and power, or identities and
values, might prevail?
(1) The General Assembly (GA)
GA’s powers are se out in Articles 10-13 of the Charter
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“may discuss” question/matters “within scope” of Charter (Art 10). However, only
makes (nonbinding) “recommendations” to states or the SC, and conducts
research/writes reports
Plenary body: everyone gets one vote, resolutions pass with 2/3 majority. Fairly
democratic
No substantive power to compel action, though does control budgeting and elections
The workings of the GA
Like national legislatures, most work and deliberation done through six functional
committees (security, economic, social political, admin, legal). Procedures dominate
– they need to when you have 193 voices
-Majority of resolutions (over 70%) adopted by agreement without vote
Operates via efforts of states’ delegations (most have diplomatic “Missions” to the
UN)
In 1946, 46 items on agenda. In 2015, 170! But because everyone is there,
opportunities for bilateral/multilateral diplomacy outside of the GA’s work.
GA decision-making
States tend to form voting blocs based on common interests. If you control 2/3 votes,
you can determine the outcomes of votes.
-Cold War had pro-US and pro-Soviet blocs.
-North-South division (post decolonisation movement) based on economic
inequality (Group of 77), though this has fragmented somewhat in recent
decades.
GA administers elections: Allocation by five geographical groupings: Africa, Latin
America, Asia, Eastern Europe, WEOG (includes US, Australia, Canada).
Both level of bloc cohesion, and its mechanisms for forming joint positions, depend
on the issue – you would need to study each individually.
The politics of the GA
Mirrors world politics, though not the realities of power given the one-state, one vote
principle.
Often resembles a deadlocked Parliament or Congress. Complex, messy, very often
ineffective. Many resolutions are “ritual” – no expectation that anything will happen.
Since Cold War ended, power shifted away from GA to the UNSC and Secretariat –
much to the chagrin of the developing world. Why?
Impact of the GA?
As you will see later today, realists would say… irrelevant! That 75% of resolutions
are the product of consensus reflects the (meaningless) lowest common denominator,
by avoiding contentious issues and employing weak or ambiguous resolution
wording.
However, the point of the GA was as a intergovernmental deliberative forum, sitting
on top of of a complex system of specialised bodies, but not closely managing their
operations.
Deliberation itself can be meaningful (Q: what would an institutionalist say?) and,
occasionally, the expression of collective will can give also rise to powerful
precedents.
-The Universal Declaration of Human Rights started life as a GA resolution.
Conferences and summits
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Document Summary
The of global governance; near-universal membership; broadest possible agenda. The central site of multilateral diplomacy (karns and mingst). Trite example leaders week the opening of the (autumn) general assembly session in new york. A big deal the world of diplomacy everyone is there. The un principal organs: general assembly, security council, economic and social council, secretariat. Established in the dying days of wwii. Everyone was tired wanted an organisation that would help prevent future world war, and promote economic and social cooperation. Aug 1941: atlantic charter (roosevelt and churchill) 1944: drafting of un charter (dumberton oaks, dc) Fashioned after the league of nations, with reforms to address major failings (e. g. unanimity requirement) A set of rules for how states should behave. A formal organisation with its own powers. Mandate: international peace and security; social and economic development. Closest thing to a constitution for the entire international system. Arts 102-103: every other treaty is subordinate.
