simon.fiala@seznam.

cz

K & M Chapter 4: The United Nations Centerpiece of Global Governance

In: Margaret P. Karns and Karen A. Mingst (Eds.). International organizations: the politics and processes of global governance/ 2nd ed. Pp. 95 143.

Notes:
UN is todays worlds central site for multilateral diplomacy o The UN General Assembly is the centre stage; The UN Security Council is the core of the global security system and the primary legitimizer of actions dealing with threats to peace Foundations o 1941: the Atlantic Charter of August 14, 1941 Roosevelt + Churchill Commitment to collaboration on economic issues and a permanent system of security 26 countries agreed to replace the League of Nations foundation of the UN UN Conference in San Francisco 1945 the UN Charter drafted o The UN Charter Only peace-loving nations = excluding the Axis of Evil Veto for the Permanent Five on security issues Sovereign equality of the member states, irrespective of their might or size Key provisions The twin principles 1. Countries shall refrain from the threat or use of force against territorial integrity or political independence of any state 2. Dedication to peaceful means Domestic sovereignty o norm of non-intervention, but provision of exception collective enforcement actions in international issues In disputes countries shall attempt to resolve consensually by peaceful means of their choice Security council o determines threats o decided on resolution incl. sanctions and eventually use of force members do not lose right to self-defence security council may delegate resolutions of issues to regional instances Issues: Domestic sovereignty: domestic/international is a problematic distinction o Security dilemmas: ethnic conflicts, human rights breach, humanitarian crises, failed states Right to self-defence: Who fired the first bullet? Pre-emptive strikes? Organs o 6 principal bodies The General Assembly; The Security council; ICJ; ECOSOC; The Trusteeship council; The Secretariat + Many others outside of the core (WHO, FAO, ILO, IMF, WB, UNESCO, ) 1

simon.fiala@seznam.cz o The General Assembly Central hub with equal representation of members Powers: decision-making over the functioning subsumed bodies, making recommendations to governments; can order inquiries with respect to conflicts Functions: Review of the UN budget Admission of new members Election of P5, members of councils, appointment of ICJ judges Most useful for symbolic politics, agenda-setting, mustering large majorities in support of resolutions Development of international law soft law (generates stock of concepts that provide guidelines and may be referred to in treaties and domestic law) May initiate the UN Charter review Achievements Production of multilateral law-making treaties o Non-proliferation; human rights conventions, diplomatic conventions Coalitions majority vote requires forming alliances Tends to reflect the north/south and the east/west divisions Since the end of the Cold War the US tends vote with the larger northern group UNCTAD G77, later split of G77 based on their economic divergence Resolutions recently being reached by consensus Shifting agendas and relevance Steady decline of the assemblys role Shortcomings: large number of resolutions, many of the ritual, too general or non-implementable In need of a reform The security council Responsibility: Maintenance of peace and security in the name of all members Chapter VI: Range of techniques of investigation of disputes Chapter VII: authority to commit all members to take enforcement measures (sanctions, military action) Members P5: US, China, Britain, France, Russia 10 Non-permanent members (Elected by the GA for 2 years terms after nomination by regional groups) No pre-set agenda meets in response to crises Nowadays also periodical review of issues before they emerge as crises Presidency rotates among members President facilitates consensus-making, facilitates discussion, decides when the issue is ready to be concluded formally Council elects the Secretary-general, participates in electing ICJ judges and in introducing new members 2

simon.fiala@seznam.cz Veto Often abused by the USSR during the Cold War Since the 1970s frequently employed by the US (mostly related to Israel) China often disagreed on measures but abstained from blocking action Rise in prestige and operability in the 1980s Peace-making Breakthrough in several regional conflicts War crimes tribunals (Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone) Measures against terrorism + monitoring bodies Authority and legitimacy of the council The council holds awesome power Yet practice of its authority depends on acknowledgement of its legitimacy by member states symbolic power ECOSOC Primary UN forum for addressing economic and social issues Its activities encompass 70% of human and financial resources of the UN Functions: Coordinates activities of specialized agencies and semi-autonomous bodies Makes research and gathers information, makes recommendations Facilitates conventions, conferences Members: 19 27 54 Elected by the GA by regional blocks, those who contribute the most usually selected 4 permanent members (from P5, excluding China), ECOSOCs resolutions and recommendations are non-binding. Have to be approved by the GA Events Each year there is a month-long conference either in Geneva or NY Annual Ministerial review Assessment of implementation of goals agreed on at UN conferences and summits and assessment of approximation to the Millennium Development Goals Development Cooperation Forum (biennial) brings together relevant actors in development cooperation Delegates tasks among: Subsidiary bodies (such as expert groups) 9 Functional commissions o Social dev., Narcotic drugs, Status of women, Science and tech., Sustainable dev., Population, Criminal justice, Statistics, Forests o Data gathering and analysis as key responsibility of funct. comms o Commision on Human Rights moved under direct resp. of the GA 5 regional commissions (Economic Commission for *Africa+, ) 19 specialized agencies (ILO, FAO, UNESCO, WHO, WB group, IMF, ) o Dispersed in capitals worldwide 3

simon.fiala@seznam.cz o o Equal voting, except for Bretton woods institutions

The Secretariat The Secretary-general Kofi Annan 1997 2006; Ban Ki-moon 2007 present 5 years (renewable), suggested by the Sec. Council, voted by the GA (2/3) Manager of the organization, its key representative, an intl public figure Participates in preparing the budget, submits annual report to the GA, may bring up security issues at the Security Council 9000 international civil servants Countries represented by appointed nationals 1/3 in Geneva, others involved in field operations Responsibility: implementation of UN economic and social programs Enabling functioning of the UN, providing reports, translations, Divided into offices and departments, incl. internal audit o ICJ Impartial body of settling international disputes in accordance with the intl law Provides advisory opinions to the GA and Security council Judges elected jointly by GA and Security council Non-compulsory jurisdiction, no executive to enforce decisions The optional clause allows countries to accept decisions as binding Had 114 contentious cases and issued 25 recommendations (by 2007) Decolonization, territorial disputes, nuclear tests, environmental protection, genocide Unofficial, but recognized power to interpret the UN Charter ICJ contributes to development of the constitutional development of global gov. o The Trusteeship Council Oversees management and of non-self-governing trust territories and facilitates their eventual release Former German colonies, Palestine Nowadays nearly inactive, new mission being sought Global conferences and summits o Ad-hoc events, proposed by members, authorized by ECOSOC or the GA o Results in set of goals and aspiration or leads straight to development of law-creating treaties (e.g. UNCLOS) o Purpose: proliferate information and norms, build consensus, educate, develop networks o Parallel stage for non-governmental actors, development of intl civil society o Shortcomings: unwieldy, non-transparent, expensive, inefficient, media circuses Conferences summits (e.g. the Millenium summit) The UN: Persistent organizational problems and need for reform o Persistent problems with financing, coordination, management and structural weaknesses, stemming partly from changing political realities and partly from the difficulty of directing a multilateral behemoth o Reform? Yes, but in which direction? o Major reform in the 1980 with the demise of the Cold War 4

simon.fiala@seznam.cz Establishment of Peace-keeping Break of the bipolar stalemate Still incomplete, many processes still belong to former eras Calls for transparency, reduction of staff, merging depts. technocratic reforms attainable Political changes in major principles extremely difficult Amendment of the UN Charter? Almost impossible o 1963 and 1971 enlargement of the member base of the GA and Security council A real reform would require strong and weak countries alike to make concessions in order to reach a grand bargain The Security Council At the moment the number and composition of members doesnt correspond to the world realities and principles of global governance Distinction between permanent and non-p? Veto power? A satisfactory reform seems almost impossible to reach o How long will be the council able to retain legitimacy if no change? Needs for reform in coordination and management Globalization changed the nature and level of interconnectedness of issues ECOSOC particularly plagued The Secretariat administrative inefficiency, political bias, the OFFP scandal Financing Core budget: USD 1.6 billion in 2008, incl. specialized agencies etc. USD 7 billion Contributions formula based on the ability + voluntary contributions Takes into account GDP, GDP PC, other factors; ranges from 25% for the US to 0.0001% to the weakest members; 19 members contribute > 1% States often fail to pay, which results in periodical crises o 1980s US withheld payments, resulting in a large deficit

o o