Is the UN an Effective International Organization? Essay

Introduction

The role of the United Nations in sustaining international peace and its present-day level of effectiveness in global governance is often questioned. In recent years, the UN has performed a number of processes aimed at strengthening its ability to rid the world of the scourge of war.¹ It was caused by the weakening of the effectiveness of international policy and proved that the organization needs critical changes. Consequently, politicians have come to realize that the United Nations is outdated and needs to be revised in light of trends reflecting the modern world.

This research paper was written to analyze the relevance of the UN policy. The importance of the topic is explained by current events in the world with the constant aggravation of military conflicts. The identification of problems in the work of the main peacekeeping organization can lead to the prevention of crises in the future. Despite the fact that, in general, the UN’s work and political strategy seem very effective, some areas still require changes.

Overview

Since its inception, the United Nations has been an organization that has constantly adapted to the modern world. Over the past few decades, the pace of geopolitical, economic and technological changes has led to unprecedented challenges.² However, new opportunities have been opened to support the work of the Security Council and numerous proofs of its necessity.

Efficiency

As an international organization, the UN has significantly succeeded in establishing collective security, which it considered its priority after the end of World War II. The organization adheres to the policy that interference does not resolve ³ but aggravates the conflict, which is why diplomacy remains the basis of relations for many years. The organization has also successfully implemented humanitarian rights worldwide, serving as a platform for peace and compromise between States.

Challenges to Efficiency

Critics of the UN’s activities question the effectiveness of the organization’s work, criticizing its main provisions and policy directions. For example, the logic of collective security becomes questionable against the background of difficulties in its application. The political limitations of the UN are confirmed by the war in Nagorno-Karabakh or the conflict in Ethiopia.⁴ Environmental policy is also criticized by opponents of the organization. The most powerful economic powers continue to damage the nature of production in order to strengthen their economic power.

Reasons of Failures

Firstly, the UN resorts to solving local problems, thereby limiting the possible prospects of its projects. In other words, the lack of systematic thinking jeopardizes noble intentions, which can potentially lead to counterproductive consequences.⁵ Secondly, along with the peacekeeping agenda, the UN avoids risks and continues to insist on the peaceful settlement of conflicts where these methods are no longer appropriate. In the long run, this creates the illusion of solving the problem that does not strive for the actual eradication of evil.

Conclusion

To date, the UN, despite numerous criticisms and the reasonableness of the arguments given, has repeatedly proved its adaptability to solving world problems. Due to new monitoring capabilities, the CIA data also confirm the progress of the United Nations.⁶ Potentially, this may mean that the continuation of such a policy may lead to the solution of minor local problems and the designation of further directions in the development of countries. Consequently, the preservation of efficiency will require more significant measures in the direction of research and further proposed projects.

Bibliography

Anastas, Paul, and Julie Zimmerman. “The United Nations sustainability goals: How can sustainable chemistry contribute?”Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry 13 (2018): 150-53.

“Five challenges the UN’s ‘sustaining peace’ agenda needs to address.”Saferworld.

Fritz, Steffen, Linda See, Tyler Carlson, Mordechai Haklay, Jessie L. Oliver, Dilek Fraisl, Rosy Mondardini, Martin Brocklehurst et al. “Citizen science and the United Nations sustainable development goals.”Nature Sustainability 2, no. 10 (2019): 922-30.

MacQueen, Norrie. “Is it worth it? Success and failure in UN intervention.” Chap. 7 in Humanitarian Intervention and the United Nations. Edinburgh University Press, 2022.

“Ten Challenges for the UN in 2021-2022.”Crisis Group.

Weiss, Thomas, and Sam Daws, eds. The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018.

Footnotes

1. “Five challenges the UN’s ‘sustaining peace’ agenda needs to address,” Saferworld. Web.
2. Weiss, Thomas, and Sam Daws, eds., The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018), 27.
3. Norrie MacQueen. “Is it worth it? Success and failure in UN intervention,” chap. 7 in Humanitarian Intervention and the United Nations, (Edinburgh University Press, 2022).
4. “Ten Challenges for the UN in 2021-2022,” Crisis group. Web.
5. Anastas, Paul, and Julie Zimmerman. “The United Nations sustainability goals: How can sustainable chemistry contribute?” Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry 13 (2018): 150. Web.
6. Fritz, Steffen et al. “Citizen science and the United Nations sustainable development goals.” Nature Sustainability 2, no. 10 (2019): 922. Web.