The United Nations and Contemporary Global Governance LESSON 4 –THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD ▪Bentham and Kant imagined the possibility of a global government, but, nothing of a sort exists today. ▪There is no single government, however, states continue to adhere to certain global norms . Global Governance Refers that to the various intersecting processes that create order. Sources of Global Governance ▪States sign treaties and form organizations. ▪International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can lobby individual states to behave in a certain way. ▪Powerful transnational corporations can have tremendous effects on global labor laws, environmental legislations, trade policy, etc. Ideas such as the need for ‘global democracy’ or the clamor for ‘global governance’ can influence the ways international actors behave. This lesson will focus on the United Nations (UN) as the most prominent intergovernmental organization today. International Organization The term is commonly used to refer to international intergovernmental organizations or groups that are primarily made up of memberstates. IOs can become more influential as independent organizations. Powers if IOs (Michael Barnett & Martha Finnemore) 1) IOs have the power of classification. 2) IOs have the power to fix meanings. 3) IOs have the power to diffuse norms. IOs can be the sources of great good and great harm. The UNITED NATIONS (UN) Profile: Established on October 24, 1945. It was the second multi-purpose organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Headquartered in New York City, the UN also has regional offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi. According to its charter, the UN aims: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,…to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights,…to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. UN’s FIVE ACTIVE ORGANS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ▪It is the main deliberative policymaking and representative organ. Decisions on important questions such as those on peace and security admission of new members and budgetary matters, require two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. ▪The General Assembly elects a GA President to serve a one-year term of office. ▪All member states (193) have seats in the GA The Philippines played a prominent role in the GAs early years when Filipino diplomat Carlos P. Romulo was elected GA President from 1949-1950. SECURITY COUNCIL ▪The most powerful organ of the United Nations. ▪It is consists of 15 member states. The GA elects ten of these 15 to a two-year term. The other fivesometimes referred to as the permanent members since the founding of the UN and cannot be replaced through election. ▪It takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or an act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle the act by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustments or terms of settlement. States that seek to intervene militarily in another state need to obtain the approval of the SC. Withy the SC’s approval, a military intervention may be deemed legal. This is an immense power. The P5 holds veto power over the council’s decision. It only takes one veto vote from P5 member to stop an SC action dead in its tracks. The SC is heir to the tradition of ‘great power’ diplomacy that began with the Concert of Europe. It is specially telling that the P5 consists of the major Allied Powers that won the WWII. Ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms Belgium (2020) Dominican Republic (2020) Estonia (2021) Germany (2020) Indonesia (2020) Nigeria (2021) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2021) South Africa (2020) Tunisia (2021) Vietnam (2021) ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC) The principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue, and recommendations on social and environmental issues, as well as the implementation of internationally agreed developmental goals. It has 54 members elected for three-year terms. It is the UNs central platform for discussions on sustainable development. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE Its task is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by states and to give advisory opinions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies. SECRETARY GENERAL Consists of ten thousands of international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the organization’s other principal organs. Serving as a kind of international civil service. Members of the secretariat serve in their capacity as UN employees and not as state representatives. UN Funds and Programmes UNDP The United Nations Development Programme works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNEP (UN Environment) The United Nations Environment Programme established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. UNFPA The United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UN-Habitat The mission of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. WFP The World Food Programme aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Every year, the programme feeds almost 80 million people in around 75 countries. Source: https://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/funds-programmes-specialized-agencies-and-others/ AGENDA 2030 FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ▪adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. ▪At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Challenges of the United Nations (UN) 1) Limits placed upon its various organs and programmes by the need to respect state sovereignty. 2) Because of the P5’s veto power, it is tough for the council to release a formal resolution , much more implement it.
