League of Nations The onset of the Second

League of Nations The onset of the Second World War demonstrated that the League had failed in its primary purpose, which was to avoid any future world war United States' refusal to join the League limited the power of the organization It also tied the League to the Treaty of Versailles, so that when the Treaty became discredited and unpopular, this reflected on the League of Nations. Representation at the League was often a problem. Though it was intended to encompass all nations, many never joined, or their time as part of the League was short The collective security system the League used meant that nations were required to act against states they considered friends, and in a way that might endanger their national interests, to support states that they had no normal affinity with The League of Nations lacked an armed force of its own Moreover, the League's advocacy of disarmament for Britain, France and its other members while at the same time advocating collective security meant that the League was unwittingly depriving itself of the only forceful means by which its authority would be upheld

UN • The United Nations (UN), which emerged in 1945 from the devastation of global conflict, aims to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war". • Its mission is to maintain international peace and security and to promote friendly relations between countries. • Done through dissuading states from attacking each other and organising counter measures against aggressive states. • The UN Charter upholds human rights and proposes that states should work together to overcome social, economic, humanitarian and cultural challenges

• MEMBERS • The UN comprises 192 member states. Montenegro is the newest member - it joined in June 2006. Membership grew as colonies became independent and the Soviet Union disintegrated. The Vatican and Taiwan remain nonmembers. Most members have permanent missions at the UN's main headquarters in New York. • Potential members are recommended by the Security Council and are admitted by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. • Member nations contribute to the running costs of the UN. A country's contribution is assessed on its ability to pay. The US is the top contributor.

• • STRUCTURE General Assembly The assembly is the UN's main forum for debate. It is the only UN body which includes representatives from all member countries. Each member country has one vote. Members can discuss any subject in the UN Charter, from international security to the UN budget. The assembly can issue recommendations, based on its deliberations. But it has no power to force countries to act on these. The assembly may also adopt "declarations", reflecting high degrees of concern or resolve among members. On key issues - including international security - a two-thirds majority is needed to adopt a resolution. The General Assembly meets for three months of the year from mid-September, and for special and emergency sessions. Its annual sessions open with a "General Debate", in which each member country delivers a statement about its perspective on world events. Most assembly business is dealt with by its six Main Committees. The assembly approves or rejects their recommendations.

Security Council The council is tasked with ensuring global peace and security. It has five permanent member nations: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. Ten other countries have temporary membership on a rotating basis. The council can impose economic sanctions and can authorise the use of force in conflicts. It also oversees peacekeeping operations.

THE UN SYSTEM 14 independent agencies make up the "UN System" alongside many of the organisation's own programmes and agencies. The independent agencies include the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Health Organisation. They are linked to the UN by cooperation agreements. The UN's own major agencies and programmes include: UN Children's Fund (Unicef) - promotes child health, education, protection UN Development Programme (UNDP) - committed to reducing poverty, developing infrastructure, promoting democratic governance UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) - based in Paris, aims to promote peace and development through education, science, culture and communication UN Environment Programme (Unep) - based in Nairobi, promotes environmental protection UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - safeguards rights and well-being of refugees; based in Geneva UN Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA) - dedicated agency providing assistance solely to Palestinian refugees and their descendants World Food Programme - based in Rome; "frontline agency in the fight against hunger"

LEADERSHIP • Secretary-general: Ban Ki-moon The 192 -member General Assembly elects the secretarygeneral for a five-year renewable term. The post is often filled by candidates from smaller, neutral nations

Peacekeeping • The UN has taken on an increasingly interventionist approach since the end of the Cold War, the tense standoff between the Soviet bloc and the West which dominated much of the organisation's first four decades. • But despite some successes in the peacekeeping arena, operations in Bosnia, Rwanda and Somalia were flawed, failing to prevent massacres and even genocide. • A 2000 report criticised the UN's insistence on neutrality in situations where one side resorted to violence, warning that this could render missions ineffective. • The organisation's blue and white olive branch motif does not guarantee safety; more than 1, 500 peacekeepers have been killed since the UN's inception.

Criticisms of the UN • The make up of the Security Council, particularly the membership of the ‘five’ and their veto, which enables any one of the five to block any resolution put to the security council. • There has been criticism that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France), who are all nuclear powers, have created an exclusive nuclear club whose powers are unchecked • Another criticism of the Security Council involves the veto power of the five permanent nations. As it stands, a veto from any of the permanent members can halt any possible action the Council may take. One nation's objection, rather than the opinions of a majority of nations, may cripple any possible UN armed or diplomatic response to a crisis. For instance, John J. Mearsheimer claimed that "since 1982, the US has vetoed 32 Security Council resolutions critical of Israel, more than the total number of vetoes cast by all the other Security Council members.