The United Nations

How does the UN get its funding to caring out its responsibilities?

1. Mandatory fees, which are based on the strengths of a country's economy. 2. Voluntary donations

What are the four goals of the United Nations

1. To maintain international peace and security through collective security measures 2. To develop friendly relations among nations ... 3. To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems 4. To promote human rights

What are four major criticisms of the UN

1. Veto powers of the five permanent members of the Security Council undermine the democratic/international nature of the United Nations. 2. Member nations often ignore UN suggestions in favour of their own national interest. Example: USA invading Iraq after the UN decided against the invasion. 3. Member nations fail to pay their membership dues which puts a strain on the UN ability to achieve its goals. 4. It is often suggested that the UN is run by the United States.

In what year was the United Nations formed?

1945

Humanitarianism

A commitment to improving the lives of other people

National Interest

A country determining its involvement in international affairs based on the outcome or benefits it receives.

Internationalism

A policy of cooperation and involvement among nations.

Veto

A vote that blocks a decision.

The League of Nations

An intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. Its primary goals, as stated in its Covenant, included preventing war through collective security and disarmament, settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration and focusing on humanitarian efforts worldwide.

The United Nations

An international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. The UN was founded after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue and diplomacy.

Where are five areas in which UN peacekeepers are presently deployed?

Haiti Southern Sudan Lebanon Cyprus The Middle East

What is the FAO and what is its goals?

It is the Food and Agriculture Organization and its mandate/goals is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

What is the ILO and what is its goals

It is the International Labour Organization, which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights.

What is UNICEF and what is its goals?

It is the United Nations Children's Fund and its goal is to help governments improve the health and education of children and their mothers.

What is the WHO and what is its goals

It is the World Health Organization and it seeks to provide leadership in health issues, monitor diseases, assess the strengths of health care systems and educate.

How is voting in the United Nations General Assembly different from that of the League of Nations?

It the League of Nations it took a consensus vote to pass a bill or resolution; whereas in the United Nations it takes a 2/3 majority.

Security Council

One of the main organizations within the UN responsible for maintaining peace and safety; composed of 5 permanent, who wield an absolute veto, and 10 rotating members with two year terms elected by the General Assembly

From a collective security standpoint, how is League of Nations different from the United Nations?

The United Nations, unlike its predecessor, is able to form a multilateral military force to obtain its collective security or peacekeeping goals, as given to it through its mandate.

What is one major flaw of the Security Council

The five permanent members have an absolute veto. These nations are the world's superpowers and often act in their own national interest to the detriment of the rest of the world.

Peacekeeping

The preservation of peace, especially as a military mission in which troops attempt to keep formerly warring armed forces from starting to fight again.

General Assembly

This body is the only UN body which all member states are represented. It was designed to be a democratic and deliberative body dealing chiefly with general questions of a political, social, or economic character. Each member state has one vote.