Module 3: The United Nations and the Contemporary Governance

There is no global government in this contemporary world. Although,

there are many internationalists that support the idea, and it is still an

imaginary possibility. With the advent of globalization processes, such may

become a reality. There is no nation-state, organization, country, or region

that can compel or force a state or states to obey predetermined or

inevitable global rules. However, there are some regulatory rules in the

general behavior of the states such as:

1) To follow global navigation routes,

2) To respect territorial boundaries, or sovereignty, and

3) To adhere to global norms- to have an international order despite

the lack of a single world government.

Global governance is governed by the following sources: 1. Signing of

agreements or treaties for mutual understanding, 2. Joining regional and

international organizations, 3. Adhering to international laws, 4. Observing

global labor laws, trade policies, and environmental legislations, and 5.

Promoting global democracy and global governance.

A. Creation of International Order

After the collapse of the League of Nations at the end of the World War

II, countries were worried about another global war. They began to push for

the formation of a more lasting and dynamic international league. They

prominent and influential International Organization of the Contemporary

World.

1. International Organization

One of the primary purposes of creating an international order is to

have peace, amity, and unity among nations. International Organizations

refers to international intergovernmental organizations or groups that are

primarily made up of member-states. The IOs are the prime movers of

globalization process. And to achieve the goal of IOs, they are given the

following powers:

1. Power of classification by creating powerful global standards.

Example:

The UN High Commissioner for Refugee can require the

states to accept refugees entering their borders.

2. Power to fix meanings such as, “inclusive growth”, “economic

development”.

Example:

“security” need to be defined as not just security from

military violence, but also safety from environmental

harm.

3. Power to diffuse norms to produce regularity in behavior because

IO’s are staffed by various experts of the field and carry some form of
authority, like the World Bank and the IMF. They created norms regarding

the implementation and conceptualization of development projects. They can

also promote relevant norms like environmental protection, human rights,

and food security.

2. The United Nations

The UN is not a perfect organization, it has also its weaknesses and

limitations but so far it has achieved its primary goal of averting another

global war and for this, the creation of UN is considered a success.

The UN is divided into five vibrant and active organs:

1. The General Assembly. This is the UN’s main policymaking and

representative organ. Every year there is a General Assembly for the

election of GA President to serve one-year term office. In 1948, Carlos P.

Romulo, a Filipino Diplomat was elected as GA president from 1949-1950.

2. The Security Council. This is the most powerful organ composed of

15 member states. The GA elects ten of these 15 member-states to two-

year term but the other five member states are permanent and they are

referred to as “P5” which includes: 1) United States, 2) United Kingdom, 3)

France, 4) Russian, and 5) China. These states have been permanent

members since the foundation of UN, and cannot be replaced through

election.

The 5P has the following eminent powers:

2. One veto vote to stop SC action,

3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This is the principal body

for coordination policy review, policy dialogue, and recommendations on

social and environmental issues, as well as the implementation of

internationally agreed development goals.

4. The International Court of Justice (ICJ). This has the task of settling

disputes in accordance with international law. Its decision is binding when

states explicitly submit and agree to place themselves before the court’s

authority. However, it is still subject to the Security Council. The SC may

enforce the ICJ rulings but remain subject to the 5P’s veto power. The UN

created the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and in 1960,

Salvador P. Lopez, a Filipino Diplomat and other Filipinos helped design the

system whereby any citizen of any state may petition UN to look into human

rights violations in a country. The system exists until today and it is known

as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). It is considered a national

Filipino heritage.

5. The Secretariat. These are the ten thousands of international UN

staff members who carry the work of the UN headed by the Secretary

General.

C. Challenges of the United Nations

organization formed by voluntary cooperation among the states of the

world- it has a global function thus naturally faces numerous challenges.

Among these are:

1. The powers of its various organs and programs are limited by the

need to respect the individual sovereignty of the nation-states.

2. The functions of the UN are limited depending on the cooperation of

the states.

3. It is very difficult for the UN to release a formal resolution to

authorize international acts of military intervention because of the P5’s veto

power. Even the United States cannot intervene in any war without the

authorization of SC.

Historically there were military interventions made by the United

States of America for instance during the Kosovo War (Serbian Leader

Slobodan Milosevic against ethnic Muslim Albanians in the province of

Kosovo). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) led by the United

States sought SC authorization to intervene the Kosovo War for

humanitarian reasons but China and Russia threatened to veto any action-

rendering the UN incapable of addressing the crisis. The NATO decided to

intervene on its own and it was a success.

Also in 2001, the United States sought to evade Iraq. It claimed that

Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMD) that threatened

were not convinced. They vetoed the UN resolution for intervention, forcing

the United States to lead a small coalition of the willing with its allied

countries evaded Iraq. During the engagement it was found out or

discovered that there were no weapons of mass destructions.

D. Brief Summary

The International Organizations (IOs) and the United Nations (UN) are

the most visible symbols of global governance. The IOs have their own

rationalities and agendas in their participation in the global arena of world

affairs and politics while the UN is always occupying a significant position in

global governance.

E. Learning Activity 4

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the significance of the United Nations Day Celebration?

2. Identify and list down as many national organizations connected

directly or indirectly to International Organization in your locality. What are

their programs of activities, and projects implemented?

3. How did these organizations or associations improve the living

economic conditions of the community? Do they empower the people in the

community to actively participate in global governance? (Support your

answer/s)