EQ3: what are the impacts of global organisations on managing issues and conflict.
The role of the UN
- US president Roosevelt introduced the term during WW2, 1942, 26 nations
agreed to work as allies.
Main aim; Maintain global peace and security. Other aims:
- Sustainable development
- Protection of human rights
- Upholding international law
- Deliverance of humanitarian aid
Permanent members of the security council: USA, UK, (USSR), China, France.
Threat response: through a range of sanctions (punishments);
- Arms embargos
- Trade embargos
- Restrictions on loans
- Freezing assets
- Travel restrictions
Intergovernmental organisation: international governmental organisation which is
composed of sovereign states.
The UN was established as a replacement for the ineffective ‘League of Nations’. It was
established in 1945, after WW2, aiming to prevent future conflict. They now and also focus
on economic, social, environmental issues.
The UN makes decisions by making recommendations to the member states, yet only the
security council has the power to make decisions. Which the member states are obligated to
implement under the charter.
Sub organisations focus on a specific route of concern, for example the ‘food and
agricultural organisation’ and the ‘international labour organisation’ and the ‘international
monetary fund’ (IMF). There are 6 sub organisations.
The UNs most powerful body. The security council is in charge of the maintenance of
international peace and security, as well as accepting new members to the UN, and
approving changed to the United Nations Charter. The security council has only 15
members. Only 9/15 member votes are needed to affirm any decisions.
Iran
Economic sanctions
- Considered a ‘rogue state’, and rumoured to be attempting to build nuclear
weapons. This lead to economic sanctions and financial restrictions by the UN.
- At the time Iran was the 4th largest oil-exporting country, they were able to
influence global oil prices due to the limited exports. Trade embargo.
- Iran’s GDP fell by just 5% - resulted in a lack of services.
- Sanctions placed in 2007.
Bosnia
Direct military involvement & social impacts
- Bosnia was a former member of Yugoslavia, yet in 1993 there were allegations of
ethnic cleansing by Bosnian Serbs against Bosnian Muslims.