United Nations—An Instrument of International Understanding and World Peace | UPSC Mains Essay Preparation PDF Download

United Nations — An Instrument of International Understanding and World Peace

Structure

(1) Opening — Purposes of the United Nations.

(2) Body — Maintenance of world peace and security

• Korean war and Gulf crisis.
• Critical disputes in the post-1945 era.
• The question of disarmament.
• Self-determination of people.
• The problem of decolonisation.
• The Agencies.
• Sovereign equality

(3) Closing — All big events and achievements have small beginnings.
The United Nations was established to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.... and to affirm faith in fundamental human rights, and to establish conditions under which justice can be maintained". To this end, the Charter laid down the pursuit of the following "purposes" by the United Nations : 

(a) To maintain international peace and security through collective measures;
(b) to promote the process of self-determination of peoples or decolonisation;
(c) to bring about the peaceful settlement of international disputes;
(d) to help achieve international cooperation in social, economic, cultural, educational, scientific, and humanitarian fields, the United Nations (UN) has set two important goals: disarmament and the establishment of a New International Economic Order (NIEO). The primary responsibility for maintaining world peace and security lies with the UN, primarily through the Security Council.

The United Nations (UN), established in the aftermath of World War II, was envisioned as a cornerstone for maintaining global peace and security. However, its effectiveness has often been constrained by the geopolitical realities of its member states, especially the Great Powers (Britain, China, France, Russia, and the USA), each wielding a 'Veto' power in the Security Council. This veto power has at times rendered the Council unable to act decisively against aggressions by these powers.

Historically, the Security Council has authorized enforcement action in only a few major conflicts, notably the Korean War and the Gulf War resulting from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. In the Korean War, the absence of the USSR from the Council allowed the US-proposed enforcement action to proceed without a Soviet veto. Contrastingly, during the Gulf crisis, the Council's ability to act was facilitated by the East-West détente and initiatives of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. These situations underscore the Council's challenges in addressing aggression involving veto-wielding powers.

The balance of terror between superpowers, primarily the USA and the USSR, and their recognition of mutual destruction risks, contributed to the avoidance of a third world war. However, numerous international disputes, including those between India and China, India and Pakistan, and crises in Ethiopia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Cuba, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, were often resolved through bilateral diplomacy rather than UN intervention.

Peacekeeping has been a significant UN role, with operations in Cyprus, Lebanon, Congo, Cambodia, Somalia, and Bosnia Herzegovina. However, challenges in funding and maintaining a trained peacekeeping force question the sustainability of these operations.

In disarmament, the UN's role has been limited despite the global threat posed by vast stockpiles of nuclear and conventional weapons. Treaties like the Non-Proliferation Treaty, SALT-I & II, the I.N.F. Treaty, and the START treaty were negotiated outside the UN framework. The UN's special sessions on arms control and disarmament have had limited practical impact.

The UN's record on decolonization and self-determination has been peripheral, with most decolonization outcomes negotiated directly between colonial powers and their subjects. Similarly, in promoting fundamental human rights, the UN has made declarations like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but lacks enforcement power in member countries, as seen in situations like South Africa and Palestine.

The UN's social, economic, and cultural activities, conducted through specialized agencies, have contributed to socio-economic development but face budgetary constraints due to political factors.

The concept of "sovereign equality" enshrined in the UN Charter is often overshadowed by structural imbalances like the 'veto' power and economic disparities among member states, leading to unequal influence within the UN.

There have been calls for restructuring the UN, including establishing a "New International Economic Order," but progress has been stymied by the resistance of affluent nations. Despite these challenges, the UN's role in facilitating dialogue and informal diplomacy should not be underestimated, as these efforts contribute to international understanding and peace.

This analysis, particularly relevant from a UPSC perspective, emphasizes the UN's complex role in global affairs, its successes, and the areas where it has fallen short, reflecting the intricate balance of power and diplomacy in international relations.