THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS

The Role of the United Nations



The Role of the United Nations

Introduction

A clear unambiguous and theoretically acceptable definition of an International organization is one, which through various processes approximates Government regulation of relations among nation states and non-state actors. Initially through Rounds and later through the art of conferencing these organizations attempt to provide solutions to global problems facing the world while recognizing, at least in theory, the constraints imposed by state sovereignty (Adebajo, 2001, pp.221).

Development of the United Nation

In 1945, the United Nations was founded with the hopes of averting another world war by "Promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. In addition to this their expressed purpose is to minimize international conflict by providing nations with a place and the time need to reflect and "cool off' and so settle disputes in a manner amenable to the majority (Bowles, 2001, pp.205). Under it, umbrella of its functions can be found attempts to promote cooperative developmental activities among nation states for the social and economic benefit of not only certain regions of the world but for all human kind. This is evident in cases where developed countries provide aid to developing countries through the different organs of the United Nations. In times when it is needed and no other redress has proven feasible it is able to provide a defence to the nation states under its care (Beaver, 2000, 168).

International organizations such as the United Nations (UN) are designed for universal membership, ideally meant to including all states in the world. Such organizations not only have a broad membership but also a general purpose, which is wide and far reaching. Conversely, there are some international organizations whose membership is more restrictive in other words it may be limited, as are many regional organizations like the Caribbean (CARICOM) and the European Union. On the other end of the spectrum, purpose organizations may be confined to one problem or one area but have its membership open or general, meaning that no specific criteria needs to be met in order to become a member state. Hence this category of international organizations tends to be goal directed focusing only on the particular area that is of importance to the majority (Bowles, 2001, pp.205).

The goals of the United Nations were enshrined in the Charter: to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to achieve international cooperation, and to work as a harmonizer among nations. Security was the principal goal of the United Nations. Unlike in the league, however, security was not narrowly conceived in the United Nations but was broadened to include socioeconomic justice, human rights, and development. Like the league, the United Nations was based on the principles of collective security. The new principle on which the league and the United Nations were based does not consider security as the individual affair of states or regions but as a collective affair of all states, and aggression against one state ...