United Nations is an international organization that unites world countries in the common goal to ensure peace and human rights. Even thought it was formed after the Second World War, its peacekeeping efforts have been somewhat limited, as has been proven by a great amount of wars, civil upraises and terrorist acts all over the world.
The United Nations was formed with a great and honorable purpose of keeping peace on the planet. Superpowers have found it their duty and immediate obligation to join the common efforts in stopping violence and human rights violations. One of the major points present in the rules of United Nations is that it will “…first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangement, or other peaceful means of their own choice” (Baylis, 313).
The interesting fact is that United Nations admits the use of force in some instances, if necessity demands violence. It is obvious that not all conflicts can be resolved peacefully but if the primary duty of UN is to make sure peace is kept globally, then determining actions must be taken. The nations that are involved in the organizations have enough political and manpower to unite in the withdrawal of all weapons.
It seems pointless for UN forces to make their presence merely visible, in a country where open military violence is taking place. One of UN’s goals is to not interfere and get involved in any violence, but it is able to stay a neutral observer while people, just steps away, are firing at each other.
If the organization presents itself as a world peacemaker than why some countries are not allowed to join? “It has proved to be impossible to reach agreement on new permanent members” (Baylis, 315) but how can anything be done if UN calls something “impossible”? If this cannot be achieved then what is possible? If the world leaders with their superior intellect cannot come to agreement and find a way to make it possible, then how can regular public be expected to keep peaceful?
The fact is that no matter how high and morally correct UN’s goals might be it is still bound by rules and politics that cannot allow certain things. The limitations that exist, clearly illustrate the human nature of the organization. It is not a secret that there were and still are a number of missions that have failed on many levels.
One out of a number examples is the crisis that took place in Rwanda (Sitkowski, 123). Not only the UN forces were killed and injured but the resolution was not achieved to any degree. It is seems strange that genocide and civil wars, as well as rebellions against governments, are taking place and the peacekeeping organization is not able to achieve any cessation of violence.
The rules and policies produced by the United Nations are not centered on a global involvement in de-weaponizing countries, as everyone is full of fear that a group of terrorists will be able to overtake a country that is unarmed. But if this is the case, then the governments should work on devices that will partially paralyze the enemy without significant harm to a person’s health.
There is no doubt that there are more people in the world who want peace and so, if United Nations allowed for everyone wanting to stop violence to join, people could be given designated authority to make sure peace is kept in their community. The decentralization of government would ensure that local authorities take control of any violent outbreaks.
The function of United Nations is representative of the want of people to reach world peace. It is a very respectable cause and a lot has been accomplished but the amount of countries and people participating in peacekeeping is too small, compared to those who upset the order. More countries must be allowed to join, to unite the efforts in fighting violence and preventing wars.
Works Cited
Baylis, John. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. New York, United States: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.
Sitkowski, Andrzej. United Nations Peacekeeping. Westport, United States: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. Print.