2008 Woodie Awards
Let us Temper our Expectations of the United Nations
While the organization leaves much to be desired, it actually serves its purpose very well.
John Ferreira
Issue date: 4/21/06 Section: Opinions
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The idea of a global democratic government is one for the ivory towers of Cambridge and not for the real world. Imagine, if you can, for a minute a world where European and Americans were willing to be constantly out voted by a billion Chinese and Indians, or a world where the most populous nations didn't actually have any power. Imagine a world where the cultural differences, political culture ones not societal ones, could be overcome to create a functioning world government.
The truth, while hard to face, is that we do not live in this imaginary world and this utopia seems very far away. In fact it is possible that the world we imagine might never come, because if there is one thing that people are not good at is giving up power. Some have hope that the United Nations can somehow emerge from its troubles and become a world government someday. In the same fashion that many hope that the European Union can become some manner of pan-European state.
The reality is that the United Nations is an organization that was built by states and for states, and not to serve the different peoples of the world. They do not have the concerns of the individual, but hold the states as their power base. It is imperative to remember the historical context under which the UN was created. The world had just gone through the most horrific six years in history; ones that we hope will never be matched in venom and carnage. The central concern of the framers of the UN was collective security, and making sure that events never spiraled out of control like they did in the 1930s.
This historical context also influenced the organization's initial concern with human rights. While human rights have become a very important consideration in the world of today, it is not the main focus or purpose of the United Nations.
The UN was created as means of curbing expansionist nation-states that would drag the world into war. It is a realist organization that was meant to keep the powers in check and not to solve the world's problems. The humanitarian aspect of the organization really only flourished later, but it is somewhat misguided. The United Nations has been incredibly successful in avoiding another major war between the superpowers during the Cold War, and for that it should be applauded. It should not be blamed for not interfering in humanitarian crises or stopping the various civil wars that exploded since 1945. The UN is fettered by the quandary that it is only as powerful as the nation states that compose it are willing to give it. It does not give itself powers, every single one of its actions need to be cleared through the interests of numerous nations. That is why most times, the body is helpless in the face of the world's horrors. That is actually a good thing, for I think that many would be afraid a world with an activist UN that would meddle in every country's domestic issues.
The truth, while hard to face, is that we do not live in this imaginary world and this utopia seems very far away. In fact it is possible that the world we imagine might never come, because if there is one thing that people are not good at is giving up power. Some have hope that the United Nations can somehow emerge from its troubles and become a world government someday. In the same fashion that many hope that the European Union can become some manner of pan-European state.
The reality is that the United Nations is an organization that was built by states and for states, and not to serve the different peoples of the world. They do not have the concerns of the individual, but hold the states as their power base. It is imperative to remember the historical context under which the UN was created. The world had just gone through the most horrific six years in history; ones that we hope will never be matched in venom and carnage. The central concern of the framers of the UN was collective security, and making sure that events never spiraled out of control like they did in the 1930s.
This historical context also influenced the organization's initial concern with human rights. While human rights have become a very important consideration in the world of today, it is not the main focus or purpose of the United Nations.
The UN was created as means of curbing expansionist nation-states that would drag the world into war. It is a realist organization that was meant to keep the powers in check and not to solve the world's problems. The humanitarian aspect of the organization really only flourished later, but it is somewhat misguided. The United Nations has been incredibly successful in avoiding another major war between the superpowers during the Cold War, and for that it should be applauded. It should not be blamed for not interfering in humanitarian crises or stopping the various civil wars that exploded since 1945. The UN is fettered by the quandary that it is only as powerful as the nation states that compose it are willing to give it. It does not give itself powers, every single one of its actions need to be cleared through the interests of numerous nations. That is why most times, the body is helpless in the face of the world's horrors. That is actually a good thing, for I think that many would be afraid a world with an activist UN that would meddle in every country's domestic issues.
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