University of La Salette

Santiago City
MODULE
The Contemporary World
3 Prepared by: KATHLEEN MAE T. GALESTRE
STEPHEN JAE G. FONTANILLA
A World
of
Regions
Introduction
The growing demands of economics and politics enabled the world to
connect at a faster rate. Even more so that the increasing demands of
globalization are now affecting not just people but also state and state
policies.
This module tackles the different mediums used by both people and
states in adjusting to a globalized world.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this
module, you should be
able to:
Motivation: Map me out.
1. appraise how a world
of regions is interwoven
and concurrently The Globalized world has interconnected both people and countries. In a
divided through yellow sheet of paper, categorize each number to A. Asian B. European. C.
globalization; American. D. Middle-Eastern E. None of the Above.

2. analyze the role of 1. An Overseas Filipino Worker

media as a source
2. Singaporean
of information
3. Terrorist
3. examine how religion 4. You
and globalization
intertwine;

Processing questions:
1. In answering the given items, what factors did you consider in making
your choice? (If any). If there are none, what made you choose the
letters for the given items?

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MODULE 2
TOPIC 3 MODULE 2
The Interstate TOPIC 4
System
Contemporary Global Governance

UN PRINCIPAL ORGANS

The General Assembly

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The A
Despite the League’s failure, it gave birth to some of the more
Contemporary task-specific international organizations that are still around today; the
World World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour
Organization (ILO). It also served as a blueprint for future forms of
ed by: international cooperation-the most prominent would be the United
KA Nations. (Claudio and Abinales, 2018)
TH
LE The aftermath of the World War II saw the rise of the United
EN Nations as the largest international organization (IO). Established in 1945
M and initially grounded on the same principles as the League of Nations of
AE averting a world war, the major allied powers during World War II
T. envisioned a world that is safe for all states, but at the same time, gives
GA an avenue to address state and interstate issues so that conflict- which
LE was mainly congruent to wars but now has also evolved on tackling issues
ST on poverty, human rights, and economy be given the proper solutions.
RE
The United Nations has five (5) active principal organs. The
ST
Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs is currently inactive
EP
after it the independence of Palau in 1994.
HE
N The five (5) active principal organs are as follows:
JA
E 1. General Assembly (GA)
G.
2. Security Council (SC)
FO
NT 3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
AN 4. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
ILL
5. Secretariat

The UN General Assembly (GA) is the UN’s “main

deliberative policymaking and representative organ.”
According to the United Nations Charter, “decisions on
important questions such as those on peace and security,
admission on new members, and budgetary matters, require a
two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. Decisions on
other questions may be done by simple majority.” All UN
member states are represented in the General Assembly. Each
member state has one vote.
Decisions are not binding – merely recommendations,
representing prevailing world opinion (Baylis, Smith, and
Figure 3. The United Nations General Assembly in New York. Source: UN Foundation
Owens 2014).

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The Contemporary World

Prepared by: KATHLEEN MAE T. GALESTRE
STEPHEN JAE G. FONTANILLA

The Security Council

Figure 4. The Five (5) Permanent Members of the Security
Council. Clockwise: United Kingdom, U.S., Russian Federation
France, and China
Unlike its predecessor, the new organization recognized great power
prerogatives in the Security Council and so the decisions of the Council are
binding.
The Council includes five permanent, and veto-wielding member
states: the USA, The United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China, as well
as 10 non- permanent members. (Ibid)
Any decisions must be passed by a majority of nine of the 15
members, including each of the five permanent members.
When the Council considers a threat to international peace, it begins
by exploring ways to settle the dispute peacefully. It can take measures to
enforce its decisions, from economic sanctions all the way to authorization
of military action.

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates the economic and social work of the United
Nations, and the UN system. It also maintains a vital link between the United Nations and civil society.
Many argue that the Council has not been given the necessary management powers to carry out its complex work.

The International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the main judicial organ of the UN. It consists of 15 judges elected jointly
by the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Court decides disputes between countries, but participation by
states in a proceeding is voluntary. Once a state has agreed to participate, it is obliged to comply with the Court’s decision.

Secretariat

The Secretariat is the main

administrative ‘engine’ of the United Nations and
employs some 40,000 people around the world
The Secretary-General is the
figurehead of the entire organization
He or she is empowered to
become involved in a wide range of areas that
can be interpreted as threats to peace. Figure 5. Antonio Guterres, The current Secretary-General.
Source. UN.org

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS STRICTLY
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Santiago City

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS STRICTLY
PROHIBITED.
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