International Organisations
1. Chapter Overview
2. Why International Organisations?
🎯 Why Nations Need International Organisations
Peaceful Conflict Resolution
Countries have conflicts and differences. Instead of going to war, they can discuss contentious issues and find peaceful solutions. Most conflicts are actually resolved without war, and international organisations facilitate this.
Issues Requiring Collective Action
Some challenges — disease eradication, global warming, nuclear proliferation — are so vast that no single country can deal with them alone. They require coordinated action by all major states.
Managing Cooperation
Recognising the need to cooperate and actually cooperating are different things. International organisations provide mechanisms, rules, and bureaucracy to ensure fair sharing of costs and benefits, and to ensure agreement compliance.
Post-Cold War Role
After the Cold War, concern arose that Western countries led by the US would be unchecked. The UN was looked to as a forum for dialogue and a potential moderating force on US power.
Shashi Tharoor (former UN Under-Secretary-General): “Jaw-jaw is better than war-war. Isn’t it better to have one place where all countries can get together… rather than bore holes into each other on the battlefield?”
3. Evolution and Structure of the United Nations
📜 From League of Nations to the UN
- After World War I, the League of Nations was created to prevent future wars — but it failed to prevent World War II (1939–45).
- The UN was founded as the successor to the League of Nations, immediately after WWII.
📅 Founding Timeline
🏛️ Objectives of the UN
- To prevent international conflict and facilitate cooperation among states.
- To stop conflicts from escalating into war and, if war breaks out, to limit its extent.
- To bring countries together to improve social and economic development all over the world.
🏛️ Principal Organs of the UN
General Assembly
All 193 members, one vote each. Debates global issues. Decisions not binding on members. Simple/two-thirds majority for major decisions.
Security Council
15 members — 5 permanent (with veto) + 10 non-permanent (2-year terms). Decisions binding on all UN members.
International Court of Justice
15 judges, 9-year terms. Resolves legal disputes between member states. Based in The Hague.
Secretariat
Administration and coordination. Headed by the Secretary-General — appointed for a five-year renewable term.
Economic and Social Council
54 members elected by General Assembly for overlapping 3-year terms. Handles economic and social welfare of member countries.
Trusteeship Council
Suspended on 1 November 1994 after Palau (the last UN trust territory) gained independence.
🌍 Key UN Specialised Agencies
WHO
World Health Organisation — good health for all.
UNDP
UN Development Programme — sustainable human development.
UNICEF
UN Children’s Fund — child welfare and rights.
UNESCO
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
UNHCR
UN High Commission for Refugees — shelter and aid in emergencies.
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency — safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology. Est. 1957.
IMF
International Monetary Fund — oversees global financial system. 190 members.
World Bank
Created 1944 — loans and grants to developing countries for human development and infrastructure.
💼 WTO — World Trade Organisation
4. The Security Council and the Veto Power
🏛️ Structure of the Security Council
🌍 Permanent Members (P5)
- United States
- Russia (successor to USSR)
- United Kingdom
- France
- China
- Selected as the most powerful victors of WWII in 1945
- Enjoy permanency and veto power
🌐 Non-Permanent Members
- 10 members elected by the General Assembly
- Serve for two-year terms only
- Cannot be re-elected immediately after completing a term
- Elected to represent all continents of the world
- Do not have veto power
- UNSC membership expanded from 11 to 15 in 1965 — but number of permanent members unchanged
🚫 What is the Veto Power?
Veto use (up to June 2018): USSR/Russia — 135, USA — 84, UK — 32, France — 18, China — 11.
⚠️ Debate Over the Veto
- Many regard the veto as undemocratic and in conflict with the principle of sovereign equality among UN members.
- There have been calls to abolish or modify the veto, but permanent members are unlikely to agree to such reform.
- Without the veto, great powers may lose interest in the UN and act outside it — making the body ineffective without their support.
5. Reform of the UN after the Cold War
🌍 Why Reforms Are Needed — Changed Realities
- The Soviet Union has collapsed; the US is now the strongest power.
- Russia–US relationship is much more cooperative than during the Cold War.
- China is rapidly emerging as a great power; India is also growing.
- Asian economies are growing at an unprecedented rate.
- Many new countries have joined the UN (from the former Soviet bloc).
- New challenges: genocide, civil war, ethnic conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, epidemics.
📋 Two Types of Reforms Demanded
Reform of Structures & Processes
Biggest debate is over the Security Council — increasing permanent and non-permanent membership to reflect contemporary world politics. In particular, more representation from Asia, Africa, and South America. Also: improvements in budgetary procedures and administration.
Reform of Issues & Jurisdiction
Some want the UN to play a greater role in peace and security missions. Others want its role confined to development and humanitarian work (health, education, environment, human rights, gender justice). In 2005, leaders agreed to steps including: Peacebuilding Commission, Human Rights Council (June 2006), Millennium Development Goals, Democracy Fund.
📝 Proposed Criteria for New UNSC Permanent Members
- A major economic power
- A major military power
- A substantial contributor to the UN budget
- A big nation in terms of population
- A nation that respects democracy and human rights
- A country that would make the Council more representative of the world’s diversity (geography, economic systems, culture)
6. India and the UN Reforms
🌐 India’s General Position on UN Reform
- India supports the restructuring and revitalisation of the UN for the changing world.
- India wants an enhanced role for the UN in promoting development and cooperation — it believes development should be central to the UN’s agenda as a vital precondition for international peace and security.
- India is concerned that the Security Council’s composition has remained largely static while UN General Assembly membership has expanded considerably.
- India argues that developing countries — now the overwhelming majority of UN members — should have a greater role in shaping Security Council decisions.
- India supports an increase in the number of both permanent and non-permanent members.
🇮🇳 India’s Claim for Permanent Membership
Arguments FOR India’s Candidature
Most populous country — nearly one-fifth of world population. World’s largest democracy. Has participated in virtually all UN initiatives. Substantial contributor to UN peacekeeping forces (long and significant record). Regular and consistent financial contributions to the UN — never faltered on payments. Growing economic power on the world stage.
Arguments AGAINST India’s Candidature
Pakistan — with troubled relations with India — opposes it. Some countries concerned about India’s nuclear weapons capabilities. Others think India’s difficulties with Pakistan will make it ineffective as a permanent member. If India is included, other emerging powers (Brazil, Germany, Japan, South Africa) will also demand inclusion. Africa and South America currently have no permanent representation — some argue they must be prioritised.
7. The UN in a Unipolar World
⚠️ Why the UN Cannot Easily Check US Power
- With the disappearance of the Soviet Union, the US stands as the only superpower — its military and economic power allow it to ignore the UN when it chooses.
- The US is the single largest financial contributor to the UN — giving it unmatched leverage.
- The UN is physically located in the US (New York) — giving Washington additional influence.
- The US has many nationals in the UN bureaucracy.
- Through its veto power, the US can block any Security Council decision that harms its interests.
- The US uses its power to “split” the rest of the world and reduce opposition to its policies.
✅ What the UN Can Still Do
- Despite US dominance, the UN can bring the US and the rest of the world into discussions over various issues.
- Even US leaders, despite frequent criticism of the UN, see it as serving a purpose in bringing together over 190 nations.
- The UN provides an arena in which it is possible to modify US attitudes and policies and shape compromises and concessions.
8. Other Key International Organisations (Quick Reference)
IMF — International Monetary Fund
Oversees international financial institutions and regulations. 190 members but unequal voting rights — G-7 countries hold 41.29% of votes. China (6.09%), India (2.64%), Russia (2.59%) are other major members.
World Bank
Created 1944 during WWII. Focused on developing countries — human development, agriculture, rural development, environmental protection, infrastructure, governance. Provides loans and grants. Criticised for setting economic agendas and imposing free market reforms.
WTO — World Trade Organisation
Successor to GATT, established 1995. Sets rules for global trade. 164 members. Major economic powers (US, EU, Japan) dominate despite unanimity rule. Developing countries complain of unfair treatment.
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency, established 1957. Implements Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” proposal. Promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy; prevents military use. Regularly inspects nuclear facilities worldwide.
Amnesty International
An NGO campaigning for human rights protection worldwide. Promotes all rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Prepares and publishes human rights reports; focuses on government misconduct. Reports play a key role in advocacy.
Human Rights Watch
An international NGO — largest human rights organisation in the US. Draws global media attention to human rights abuses. Helped campaigns to ban landmines, stop use of child soldiers, and establish the International Criminal Court.
9. Mind Map — Chapter 4 at a Glance
Collective action
Managing cooperation
Secretariat · ECOSOC
193 members
10 non-permanent
Binding decisions
USSR/Russia — 135
USA — 84
More Asia·Africa·S.Am.
Human Rights Council
Wants P5 seat
Dev. must be central
But provides a forum
Indispensable body
WTO · IAEA
Amnesty · HRW
10. Summary — Quick Revision
International organisations are not super-states — they are created by and respond to member states. They help resolve conflicts peacefully, facilitate collective action on global problems (disease, climate change), and manage the costs and benefits of cooperation among nations.
The UN was founded in 1945 as a successor to the failed League of Nations. The UN Charter was signed by 51 founding members. UN Day: 24 October. India joined on 30 October 1945. Current Secretary-General: António Guterres (9th SG, from Portugal, since 1 January 2017).
The UN has six principal organs: General Assembly (all 193 members, one vote each, decisions not binding), Security Council (15 members, decisions binding), ICJ (The Hague), Secretariat, Economic and Social Council, and Trusteeship Council (suspended 1994). Key specialised agencies include WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNDP, IAEA.
The Security Council has five permanent members (US, Russia, UK, France, China) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The veto allows any permanent member to block a Security Council resolution through a negative vote. The Council was expanded from 11 to 15 members in 1965.
Post-Cold War, the UN faces demands for reform because the world has changed dramatically — Soviet Union collapsed, US became sole superpower, new challenges emerged (terrorism, climate change, nuclear proliferation). The 1992 UNSC reform debate highlighted three complaints: the Council no longer represents contemporary realities, reflects only Western interests, and lacks equitable representation.
Proposed criteria for new permanent UNSC members include: major economic/military power, substantial UN budget contributor, large population, respect for democracy and human rights, and geographic/cultural representativeness. No consensus exists on which criterion to prioritise — making reform extremely difficult.
India supports UN reform and an expanded UNSC with more developing country representation. India’s candidature for permanent membership is backed by: largest democracy, one-fifth of world population, long peacekeeping record, consistent financial contributions, and growing economic power. Opposition comes from Pakistan, countries concerned about India’s nuclear capability, and those wanting Africa/South America represented first.
The UN cannot easily check US power because of US financial dominance, the UN’s location in US territory, US nationals in the bureaucracy, and the US veto. Nevertheless, the UN provides a forum where other nations can discuss and modify US attitudes. The UN is imperfect but indispensable — as global interdependence grows, its importance will only increase.
11. Important Terms to Remember
- Veto Power: The power held exclusively by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to block any resolution through a single negative vote, even if all other members vote in favour. A single veto can stall a Security Council decision.
- P5 (Permanent Five): The five permanent members of the UNSC — USA, Russia, UK, France, and China — selected as the most powerful victors of WWII. They enjoy permanency and veto power, unlike the ten non-permanent members who serve two-year terms.
- Secretary-General: The UN’s most visible public figure and representative head, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year renewable term. Current (9th): António Guterres of Portugal (since 1 January 2017).
- IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency): Established in 1957 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its military use. IAEA teams inspect nuclear facilities worldwide to ensure civilian reactors are not used for military purposes.
- WTO (World Trade Organisation): Established in 1995 as the successor to GATT, with 164 members. Sets rules for global trade. Criticised by developing countries for being dominated by the US, EU, and Japan who frame rules favouring their own interests.
- IMF (International Monetary Fund): An international organisation with 190 members that oversees international financial institutions and regulations. Voting rights are unequal — the G-7 holds about 41% of votes, giving developed countries disproportionate control.
- Peacebuilding Commission: Established in 2005 at the UN’s 60th anniversary summit. Aims to assist countries emerging from conflict in building lasting peace by addressing root causes of conflicts and helping coordinate international actors.