FERAREN, JOHN REY, A.

BLOCK 3
SPECIAL ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW ATTY. DEVERATURDA

The United Nations is an international organization that was been born out of the chaos and
devastation of the Second World War and the failure of its predecessor the “League of Nations”
to prevent such war, leaders from all over the globe has started to join this post-war alliance
hoping that they would be a part of the biggest military alliance in world history. The main agenda
of the organization is to maintain peace and security among state actors in the civilized world,
reach out to member states by ensuring co-operation with one another by addressing key critical
issues like the economy and rights of different individuals across the globe, lastly is by respecting
the sovereignty of nation-state through non-intervention on its domestic affairs.
The formation of the United Nations has a huge impact in keeping key major countries away from
entering into another great war again with each other, especially during the advent of the most
destructive force mankind has ever created which is nuclear weapons or weapons of mass
destruction (WMD’s) this dangerous technology can destroy humanity much less the world in
general five times over. A nuclear scenario is aptly prevented by keeping these state actors
actively participating in discourse and dialogue with each other in the international field, this
deliberation between states all became possible because of the U.N. This idea of self-
preservation and keeping the balance of power can be trace to the “realist” theory of international
relations, where it is primarily based around a view of humanity whereby people are purely self-
interested and required to guard their interests through military capacity and a balancing of
power.1
Another key element for this organization is the multi-lateral cooperation between states in terms
of promoting economic justice, humanitarian intervention, international law and human rights. We
could see these agendas being played out, examples of which are the adoption of the Millennium
Development Goal which is right now the Sustainable Development Goal which focuses in ending
poverty across the glove; U.N. peace keeping missions in other places where other countries has
been devastated by natural disasters which is for humanitarian reasons, and the drafting of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines the “basic rights and fundamental
freedom” of every individual. This ideas of values of democracy, justice, human rights and peace
is built upon the theory of liberal institutionalism where it is characterized by a belief in the
goodness of humanity. If these values are respected, liberals believe that peace will prevail.
Like any other government institution which has its own bureaucracy and framework, the United
Nations is also composed of different bodies which has its own functions. First is the United
Nations General Assembly, where it acts like a legislative branch of government where
deliberations between states transpire and it also has the responsibility to approve budget and
accept new members, Second is the Secretariat, who is headed by the U.N. Secretary General
being elected by the General Assembly, their job is to administer the different bodies of the U.N.
and is also the face of the organization. Thirdly, is the Security Council, this body acts as the arm-
wing of the U.N. where its job is to maintain peace and security. Fourth, is the International Court
of Justice, which arbitrates dispute between different nations and holds international trials for
dictators and human rights abusers. Fifth, is the Economic and Social Council, which focuses on
the areas of economic and social issues between member states. Lastly, is the Trusteeship
Council, where it manages the former League of Nation’s mandate.

1
International Relations Theory and the U.N: A Short Primer, 2015, available at
https://wikieducator.org/images/8/89/Engel_Pallas_International_Relations_Theories_2015.pdf