, which has a heap of info for the UN and its response to the contemporary issues. Also, I've recently had an exam on that question so I guess i'll share it below - Just note that it actually isn't done, I just memorised my evidence for the final paragraph and made one up + a conclusion on the spot. Idk why but, somehow my caffeine induced all-nighter paid off (Mainly thanks to Jamon
).
Spoiler
Assess the effectiveness of the United Nations in promoting and maintaining world order
By definition, world order describes the mechanisms set by the international community, for the preservation of global political stability (Oxford Dictionary). Though it is undeniable that the United Nations (UN) has experienced past success, it’s response to issues in the current international framework have proven to be highly ineffective. In light of recent events, the principle of the ‘responsibility to protect’ (R2P) has revealed itself as a flawed system that is heavily dependent on global compliance. Similarly, while UN responses to the nuclear threat and global cooperation were successful, mechanisms in the current age prohibit the ability for world order to be maintained. Overall, with an increasingly contentious global climate, the effectiveness of the UN in promoting and maintaining world order has been effective to a moderate extent.
The issue of non-compliance continues to hinder the ability for the UN to actively use the principle of R2P to achieve world order. Such a principle was established due to the extremely delayed response to mass atrocity crimes within Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo. To prevent future occurrences of crimes against humanity, the UN has amended the UN Charter, where Article 24 places the UNSC in “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security”. While the theory of R2P suggests prospects for an effective maintenance of world order, when put into practice, the principle proves to be highly unrewarding. Though the UN actively attempts to resolve conflict in Syria, Russia has failed to comply with its duties and has exploited its veto powers to continue its trade of weaponry. To date, there have been eight instances where Russia has vetoed a resolution to conduct operations in Syria; In 2012, their use of a veto prohibited the ability for the UN to intervene, resulting in an increase of reported deaths by 5,000. In The Guardian’s article ‘Vetoed!, the question regarding the fairness and relevance of veto powers has been raised. Considering the constantly changing nature of morals and ethical standards, the wider community believes that the UNSC has become anachronistic and “obsolete”. Accordingly, Antonio Patriota of the UN recommends that amendments be made to “shape a security council that is truly in tune with the 21st century”. Despite this, it is undeniable that the UN has achieved some success through the use of R2P in the 2011 Libyan crisis. The passing of the 1970 and 1973 Resolutions effectively protected Libyan citizens from extreme violence through the imposition of no-fly zones and military presence. With this, the UN was successful in preventing pro-gaddafi forces from capturing major Libyan cities, while their leader, Muammar Gaddafi was referred to stand trial in the ICC. Thus, while there has clearly been success in Libya, the anachronistic nature of veto powers hinders the effectiveness of the UN in achieving world order to a moderate degree of effectiveness.
Although the UN has effectively responded to the threat of a nuclear war, a lack of prosecution has hindered the ability for world order to be maintained. Following the events of the cold war, the UN has actively supported denuclearisation as a means of achieving global peace and stability. International mechanisms such as Start 1 in 1991 has been highly effective in the disarmament of nuclear weapons between the US and Russia, allowing for a reduction of arsenals by 58,000. Similarly, the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons 1968 (NPT) has allowed for the promotion of peaceful energy usage in an increasingly nuclear world. However, North Korea’s withdrawal from the NPT displays the unenforceability of international law due to state sovereignty. In the current global climate, the use of nuclear weapons has been deemed the “biggest threat to humanity” (Lawrence Krauss on BBC’s Q&A), largely due to NK’s unwillingness to comply with the UN. The continued conduction of nuclear tests by the ‘rogue state’ (Anthony Lake) has pressured the UN to impose sanctions as a means of political persuasion. However, the use of international negotiation continues to have little effect on the behaviour of NK, leaving the global community paralysed and unable to react to the growing chances of a “major conflict with North Korea” (Donald Trump). With regards to a more regional conflict, the UN remains unresponsive to the US’ illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. Although the US claimed to have acted in ‘self-defence’, members of the International Commission of Jurists highlight that the invasion was a clear breach of the UN Charter and was not authorised by the UNSC. Despite this, the ICJ has failed to punish the US for clear acts of aggression, thus turning a “blind eye to one of the most blatant human rights abuses” (Jean Shaoul). It clear that the UN has achieved past success in the disarmament of nuclear weapons, but is restricted by state sovereignty to enforce its policies for peace in North Korea and the US. As a result, UN responses to regional and global conflict has been effective only to a moderate extent.