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6
United Nations
Introduction
by Dr. Bruce Russett
T
he United Nations was founded in 1945
by the victors of WorldWar II.
They hoped the new organization could learn from the mistakes of the
League of Nations that followedWorldWar I—and prevent another war.
The United Nations has not been able to bring worldwide peace; that
would be an unrealistic hope. But it has contributed in important ways to
the world’s experience of more than sixty years without a new world war.
Despite its flaws, the United Nations has contributed to peace.
Like any big organization, the United Nations is composed of many
separate units with different jobs. These units make three different kinds of
contributions. The most obvious to students in North America and other
democracies are those that can have a direct and immediate impact for peace.
Especially prominent is the Security Council, which is the only UN
unit that can authorize the use of military force against countries and can
require all UN members to cooperate in isolating an aggressor country’s
economy. In the Security Council, each of the big powers—Britain, China,
France, Russia, and the United States—can veto any proposed action.
That’s because the founders of United Nations recognized that if the
Council tried to take any military action against the strong opposition
of a big power it would result in war. As a result, the United Nations was
often sidelined during the Cold War era. Since the end of the Cold War
in 1990, however, the Council has authorized many military actions, some
directed against specific aggressors but most intended as more neutral
peacekeeping efforts. Most of its peacekeeping efforts have been to end
civil wars rather than wars between countries. Not all have succeeded,
but many have. The United Nations Secretary-General also has had an
important role in mediating some conflicts.
UN units that promote trade and economic development make a
different kind of contribution.Some help to establish free markets for greater
prosperity, or like the UN Development Programme, provide economic and