The United Nations Organization, 1945-1970 causes, achievements, strength and weaknesses

Questions to ponder

1. Examine the achievements of United Nations Organization (UNO) from 1945-1970

(Give a brief background of UNO. Identify objectives and explain the degree (extent) to which they were achieved during the period of 1945-1970. Identify the failures of UNO. Conclude by emphasizing the standpoint taken in the introduction).

2. To what extent did the United Nations Organization live up to the expectations of its founder between 1945 and 1970

(Give a brief background of UNO. Analyse the degree to which UNO fulfilled its objectives. A clear standpoint is required.)

3. Account for the failure of UNO to maintain peace in the world. /Account for the weakness of UNO. /Why did UNO fail to totally achieve the aims and objectives of its founder?

(Give a brief background of UNO. Analyse the reasons for the failure of UNO to execute its objectives)

4. Examine the strength and weakness of United Nations Organization (UNO) from 1945 – 1970

(Give a brief background of UNO. Identify and explain the weakness and strength of UNO from 1945 -1970)

 

Background of the United Nations Organization, 1945-1970

The United Nations Organization (UN) was established on October 24, 1945, with the primary goal of maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, and fostering international cooperation. Here’s a summary of its key developments from 1945 to 1970: The founding members of UNO included USA, Britain, France, USSR and Ethiopia.

Objectives United Nations Organization

The United Nations Organization (UN) was established with several key objectives aimed at promoting global peace and cooperation:

1. Maintain International Peace and Security: To prevent conflicts through diplomacy, dialogue, and collective security measures.
2. Promote Human Rights: To uphold and protect fundamental human rights and freedoms for all individuals, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
3. Foster Social and Economic Development: To support economic growth, social progress, and improved living standards across the world, particularly in developing countries.
4. Promote International Law: To encourage respect for international law, treaties, and agreements to ensure peaceful relations between nations.
5. Humanitarian Assistance: To provide aid and support in times of crisis, including natural disasters and armed conflicts, to alleviate human suffering.
6. Environment and Sustainability: To address global environmental issues and promote sustainable development to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.
7. To enforce disarmament policy through security council.

Achievement/success of United Nations Organization

The United Nations Organization (UN) has achieved numerous successes since its formation in 1945. Here are some key achievements:

1. Human Rights: The UN established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, laying the foundation for international human rights law. It continues to promote and protect human rights through various mechanisms and treaties.
2. Decolonization: The UN played a significant role in the decolonization process, supporting the independence of many countries and reducing the number of people living under colonial rule from 750 million in 1945 to less than 2 million today.
3. Peacekeeping: The UN has conducted numerous peacekeeping missions around the world, helping to maintain peace and security in conflict zones. These missions have been crucial in preventing conflicts from escalating and facilitating peaceful resolutions.
4. Humanitarian Assistance: UN agencies provide aid to millions of people affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies. The World Food Programme, for example, provides food assistance to over 80 million people annually1.
5. Health and Education: The UN has made significant strides in improving global health and education. UNICEF, for instance, has helped vaccinate millions of children, saving countless lives from preventable diseases.
6. Environmental Protection: The UN has been instrumental in promoting environmental sustainability and addressing global environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss through United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).
7. UNO has succeeded at liberation and protecting women rights.
8. It proved workers welfare through the International Labour organization (ILO)
9. Through United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) it deals with the plight refugees.
10. The UNO registered some success in its attempt to end the 1950-1953 Korean crises. UNO Peace Keeping troops defeated North Korean troops that had crossed to South Korean.
11. The UN peacekeeping troops repulsed Libya’s troops that had invaded Chad in 1970.
12. Through United Nations Educational Scientific and cultural Organization (UNESCO) it combated racial and cultural discrimination.

Failures of United Nations Organization, UNO

The United Nations Organization (UN) has faced several notable failures and criticisms over the years:

1. Peacekeeping Failures: The UN has been criticized for its inability to prevent atrocities in conflict zones. For example, during the Bosnian War, UN peacekeepers failed to prevent the Srebrenica massacre in 1995, where over 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed.
2. Inaction in Major Crises: The UN has been accused of failing to act decisively in major crises, such as the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and the Syrian Civil War, where its peacekeeping efforts have been seen as inadequate.
3. Bureaucratic Inefficiency: The UN has faced criticism for its bureaucratic inefficiency and slow response times, which can hinder effective action in urgent situations.
4. Corruption and Mismanagement: There have been instances of corruption and mismanagement within UN agencies, leading to the misuse of funds and resources intended for humanitarian aid.
5. Geopolitical Bias: The UN has been accused of being influenced by powerful member states, leading to perceived biases and double standards in its actions and resolutions.
6. Failure to Address Climate Change: Despite efforts to promote environmental sustainability, the UN has struggled to achieve a universal consensus on climate change, as seen in the limited outcomes of international climate agreements.
7. The United Nations Organization failed to eradicate drug trafficking and consumption of harmful substance.
8. It failed to prevent the outbreak of cold war between Western Capitalists Block led by USA and the Eastern communist Bloc Lead by USSR.
9. UNO failed to create its own army to restrain aggressors.
10. UNO failed to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
11. UNO failed to eradicate poverty in the developing countries.
12. UNO failed to disarm world Major Powers like USA, Britain and France that has compelled other nations to invest in weapons of mass destruction.
13. Uno failed to prevent rise of dictators like Amin.
14. It failed to generate its own finances.
15. It failed to prevent assassination of political leaders like Patrice Lumumba of Congo.

Reasons for the failure of United Nations Organization to maintain peace in the World

While the United Nations Organization (UN) has achieved significant successes, there have been several reasons for its failure to maintain global peace at times:

1. Lack of Enforcement Power: The UN often relies on the cooperation and commitment of member states to enforce its resolutions and mandates, which can limit its ability to act decisively.
2. Veto Power: The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France) have veto power, which can block collective action and lead to gridlock on critical issues.
3. Sovereignty Concerns: Member states’ emphasis on national sovereignty can hinder the UN’s ability to intervene in internal conflicts, even when humanitarian crises are severe.
4. Funding Constraints: The UN’s operations are dependent on contributions from member states. Delays or shortfalls in funding can impede the organization’s effectiveness in crisis situations.
5. Geopolitical Tensions: Conflicting interests among major powers can lead to inaction or biased responses, undermining the UN’s ability to mediate and resolve conflicts impartially.
6. Bureaucratic Inefficiencies: The UN’s large and complex bureaucracy can result in slow decision-making and inefficient responses to urgent situations.
7. Limited Mandates: Peacekeeping missions are often constrained by limited mandates that may not allow for effective action against aggressors or in complex conflict situations.
8. Also the role of USA in hijacking the role of UNO.
9. Existence of antagonistic capitalists and communist blocs.

The strength of the United Nations organization UNO between 1945 1970

The United Nations Organization (UNO) demonstrated significant strength and achievements between 1945 and 1970:

1. Establishment of Peacekeeping Missions: The UN successfully launched peacekeeping missions, such as the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948, to monitor ceasefires and prevent conflicts from escalating.
2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights: In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has become a foundational document for human rights globally.
3. Decolonization Support: The UN played a crucial role in supporting the decolonization process, helping many countries gain independence and join the international community.
4. Disarmament Efforts: The UN initiated various disarmament efforts, including the establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) in 1968.
5. Humanitarian Aid: UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), provided essential humanitarian aid and improved health and education standards worldwide.
6. Formation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): In 1965, the UNDP was established to promote sustainable development and reduce poverty.
7. Ability to withstand challenges.

Weakness of United Nations Organization between 1945-1970

The United Nations Organization (UNO) faced several weaknesses between 1945 and 1970:

1. Lack of Enforcement Power: The UN often struggled to enforce its resolutions due to the reliance on member states’ cooperation and the veto power held by the five permanent members of the Security Council.
2. Bureaucratic Inefficiency: The UN’s large and complex bureaucracy sometimes led to slow decision-making and inefficient responses to urgent situations.
3. Geopolitical Tensions: Conflicting interests among major powers, especially during the Cold War, hindered the UN’s ability to act impartially and effectively.
4. Limited Resources: Funding constraints and limited resources often impeded the UN’s ability to carry out its missions and programs effectively.
5. Sovereignty Concerns: The emphasis on national sovereignty by member states sometimes prevented the UN from intervening in internal conflicts, even in cases of severe humanitarian crises.
6. Inaction in Major Crises: The UN faced criticism for its inaction or inadequate response in major crises, such as the Rwandan genocide and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

 

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Dr. Bbosa Science.