Historical Security Council
Topic 1: Persian Gulf War
Mounting tensions between the nations of Iraq and Kuwait were perpetuated by factors
such as Iraq’s refusal to acknowledge Kuwait as an independent nation, Kuwait’s refusal to pay
war debts to Iraq for the protection of the nation during the Iraq-Iran War by Iraq, and Iraq’s
charges against Kuwait stating that it had been invading Iraqi territory and stealing of Iraqi oil.
Seeing Kuwait as a potential source of wealth and oil, Iraq leader, Saddam Hussein, ordered the
invasion and occupation of Kuwait in August 1990. Outraged, Arab nations called for Western
intervention and after Iraq openly defied United Nation demands to evacuate, the United States
took action with a massive offensive that started what is known to be the Persian Gulf War. After
several weeks of fighting, Iraq forces are defeated and evacuated from the territory of Kuwait.
After what was deemed to be a decisive win against the nation of Iraq, there were,
however, a number of pressing issues that had needed attending as consequence of the War.
Some of these include the detrimental effects of the multiple bombings on the environment of
Iraqi land, mandatory weapons inspections considered by the United Nations, and the issue of the
economic sanctions still upheld in Iraq by the United Kingdom and United States after the War
which were still affecting the people and economy of the nation. Decisions to address these
issues and the nature of the degree of actions that should be taken against or supporting these
issues as well as other post-war situations will be taken by the Security Council of the UN.
The issue of what are deemed to be atrocities against the people of Iraq and their
government has provoked strong emotions among nations and leaders of the United Nations. It is
the job of the UN to address how severe these events are and whether or not direct action should
be taken against them. As Nations see this international incident and in this post-war period,
decisions on the exploitation or conciliation of the situation are being considered by many
governments but the issue of how to bring countries together in dealing with this post war
environment will certainly be on the agenda of the Security Council.
Discussion Questions:
1. After seeing how they were implemented in these instances, how will economic sanctions
work as a punishment in the future?
2. How can the Security Council peacefully conclude this conflict and prevent future wars of
the same nature?
3. In what ways can the Security Council discipline these nations and regulate the use of
weapons in the region?
Resources:
1. General Overview of the Gulf War
http://www.history.com/topics/persian-gulf-war 2013
2. Knowledge to set the stage for coming conflicts
http://www.history.com/topics/iran-iraq-war
3. Overview of Persian Gulf War 1991
http://www.vfwpost6298.com/wwii-and-beyond/42-perian-gulf-war/66-overview-of-persiangulf-war-1991
4. Effects of Iraq Sanctions
http://www.globalissues.org/article/105/effects-of-sanctions
5. Details of the Invasion of Kuwait
http://www.rationalrevolution.net/war/invasion_of_kuwait.htm
6. Saddam Hussein’s hand in the Invasion of Kuwait
http://arabic-media.com/saddam.htm
7. UN Resolution on Iraq- Kuwait Conflict
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/596/36/IMG/NR059636.pdf?
OpenElement
8. Iraq- Kuwait Background
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unikom/background.html
9. US involvement in the Persian Gulf War
http://www.military.com/Resources/HistorySubmittedFileView?file=history_gulfwar.htm
10. Chronology of Persian Gulf War
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/cron/
Historical Security Council
Topic 2: End of Apartheid
After decades of oppression and segregation in South Africa, Apartheid was finally
abolished in June of 1991. In 1950, the political leaders began passing the fearsome laws that
forced native South Africans into restricted areas to live and work. Apartheid was opposed by the
UN from its conception, but was ineffective in eradicating it. With the end of Apartheid, South
Africa was given a new hope for the future, but there was still much to be done.
Before the National Party, that represented the Afrikaners, was elected into power, a
racial discrimination existed but was not enforced by the government. In 1950, the newly elected
Party began passing unjust laws, signaling the start of Apartheid in South Africa. Under these
laws, people were forced to register according to racial status, live in separate townships
depending on race, receive inferior education under the Bantu Education Act, which enforced
racially separated education facilities, and cruelly taught them that natives were inherently
unequal. The discrimination that had previously been a part of the culture was now engrained
into the law under the new government rule.
In 1976 the Soweto student uprising/massacre began the chain reaction leading to the
abolition of Apartheid laws. The uprising was a reaction to the unfair Bantu Education Act, and
began as a peaceful protest. When police opened fire, the students took to the streets and after
three days, students occupied city centers around the country. This was a time when all liberation
movements were banned, but police brutality and massacre of hundreds was not enough to quell
the protest. All across the nation similar uprisings and movements took to the streets and made
their position heard. Various other civilians took similar stands in protest of Apartheid during its
existence, but the authoritative government easily crushed their movements. The UN made many
attempts to rid South Africa of their oppressive system, but with no success. With many
uprisings and public opposition from people like Nelson Mandela and the students in Soweto
came international attention that eventually pressured South African leaders into repealing and
abolishing Apartheid laws. With Apartheid finally done with, the UN can hopefully have a hand
in aiding the liberated people.
With the end of the system of Apartheid, a restructuring of the South African government
is quite necessary. The corrupt government officials who prolonged the suffering of the
oppressed natives must also be addressed. Social, political, and economic issues that the UN can
help avoid come with abolishing the system of Apartheid. The time of discrimination has come
to an end; it is the UN’s job to bring South Africa to a better tomorrow.
Discussion Questions:
1. In what ways can the Security Council aid in the reconstruction of the South African
government? Should the UN help organize free elections? Does the Security Council have
the right to help structure a new government?
2. What methods can be used to successfully and peacefully integrate the once oppressed
people into the community? Does the Security Council have the ability to act in these areas?
3. What can the UN do to ensure that this type of oppression will not occur in other areas? What
should be done about the leaders who enforced Apartheid in South Africa?
Resources:
1. History of Apartheid
http://www.history.com/topics/apartheid
2. The End of Apartheid and the Birth of Democracy
http://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/unit.php?id=14&page=1
3. The Soweto Uprising/ Massacre
http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/june-16-soweto-youth-uprising
4. Apartheid Defined as a War Crime
http://www.crimesofwar.org/a-z-guide/apartheid/
5. Protests Against Apartheid
http://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/index.php/movements-and-campaigns/movements-andcampaigns-summaries?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&sobi2Id=29
6. Understanding Apartheid
http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/resources
7. UN Efforts Against Apartheid
http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/apartheid.shtml
8. Details most prominent Apartheid laws
http://www.sahistory.org.za/liberation-struggle-south-africa/apartheid-and-limits-nonviolent-resistance-1948-1960
9. A History of Political Corruption in South Africa
http://www.academia.edu/432025/Political_Corruption_in_South_Africa_Before_and_After_
Apartheid
10. Timeline of Apartheid
http://www.stanford.edu/~jbaugh/saw/Ajani_Apartheid.html
Historical Security Council
Topic 3: Collapse of the USSR
The Cold War, which was the conflict between the competing superpowers of the USA
and USSR that began at the end of WWII, was coming to a close and the presence of
Communism was being withdrawn from Western Europe. The Warsaw Pact, an alliance made in
1955 to create a politically and militarily organized Russian front, included Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Albania, and the Soviet Union. Many of the nations
in this pact were breaking free of the ties and becoming autonomic states. While the USSR had
its allies in the Warsaw Pact, it also comprised of many other republics, which were also
becoming restless. The USSR’s satellite nations were becoming independent, leaving them with
hardly any financial help or political support from the nation they had been connected to for
years. 1991 was a time of independence and reformulation of the structure of Eastern Europe.
In 1987, Estonia set off the chain reaction of discord by declaring themselves
independent. With this, movements were cropping up all over Eastern Europe. Nativist
movements began in Georgia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and the Central Asian Republics,
which made the USSR even less stable than it already was. In the USSR, after an attempted coup
d’état in August of 1991, the country visibly began to fall into chaos. Towards the end of the
year, representatives from the eleven surviving Soviet republics met in Kazakh city to announce
their independence and declare the establishment of a Commonwealth of Independent States.
The Security Council will investigate possible alternative routes to settling post- Cold
War conflicts in these Eastern European nations that had recently been freed of their Communist
ties to the USSR. Many new governments will be formed, and smooth transitions of power may
require UN aid in some nations. Restitution was what the people sought out; they wished to
obtain the land that was once theirs. Land disputes and issues of borders between nations are
problems that must be dealt with by the Security Council.
The UN’s presence in aiding these newly independent nations is one that needs to be
decided. While there may not be direct, physical conflict in these areas, they will have problems
to face. Effective leadership, government representative of the people’s needs, and economic
stability are issues to be settled in each sovereign nation. With the collapse of the USSR, reform
of the economy of Eastern Europe is a major concern. Along with a new economy and newly
formed governments will come a new structure of alliances that will change the face of global
politics.
Discussion Questions:
1. With many new, autonomic nations in Eastern Europe, what measures can be taken to ensure
a peaceful transition for all parties involved?
2. Does the Security Council have the authority to regulate and aid the economic and domestic
difficulties these new nations may face?
3. How can the Security Council address the military presence and Communist influence in the
Warsaw Pact nations? Does the UN have the right to interfere in these matters?
Resources:
1. Details of the individual nation’s actions leading up to the collapse
http://www.coldwar.org/articles/90s/fall_of_the_soviet_union.asp
2. The Warsaw Pact Dissolves
http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&SubjectID=1991warsaw&Year=1991
3. Land Reform in Eastern Europe
http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/AD878E/AD878E05.htm
4. Examination of USSR’s history
http://www.history.com/topics/fall-of-soviet-union
5. Economic reasons for the fall of the USSR
http://www.culture-of-peace.info/soviet-collapse/page9.html
6. History of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
http://www.history.com/topics/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact
7. Initial Independence of the Baltic Nations
http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&SubjectID=1991baltic&Year=1991
8. The Soviet Coup of August 1991
http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&SubjectID=1991august&Year=1991
9. The USSR under different leadership
http://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/explore/country.cfm?country=Soviet%20Union
10. Overview of Collapse of USSR
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/soviet-collapse.htm