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Shared Research Document: Relevant Issues in the 21st Century Project

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(Country leaders meeting when the UN was established in 1945.)

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SUBTOPIC: Background

After WWII, the world was in trouble economically, socially, and technologically. Wanting to maintain international peace and security after the League of Nations failed to prevent another war after WWI, the UN was created and officially established on October 24, 1945.

Jordan

("Our History")

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(Photo showing how the world was in shambles after the end of WWII [1945].)

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The State of the World After the War (After WWll)

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The State of the World After the War (After WWll)

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SUBTOPIC: Background

The world was very different after WWII in comparison to how it was after WWI, because new countries rose to power and they had very different views on the legitimacy of the UN than the established powers, the countries who were in power prior to WWII. For example, established powers did not believe that new powers comply adequately with existing institutions while the new powers did not believe that existing institutions (the League of Nations) had the legitimacy to govern global affairs.

Emma

("Our History")

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(Image of the UN Security Council meeting.)

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THE FORMATION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (1945/1950)

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THE FORMATION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (1945/1950)

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SUBTOPIC: Background

The Security Council, established in 1945, has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security by imposing sanctions or using force.

Dani

("United Nations") ("UNITED NATIONS")

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The Early Years of Peacekeeping During the Cold War (1958-1962)

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The Early Years of Peacekeeping During the Cold War (1958-1962)

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SUBTOPIC: Background

Proxy Wars during this time frequently paralyzed the Security Council, putting into question its legitimacy and effectiveness. The peacekeeping operations consisted of unarmed military observers with confidence-boosting roles; however as the years of the Cold war went on, the UN started operations including large scale military involvement, such as the UN Operation in the Congo. This large scale invasion, including 20,000 military personnel, demonstrated the risk that the UN was willing to take by involving themselves in conflict.

Jordan

("Our History")

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(UN peacekeepers were awarded a Nobel peace prize.)

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SUBTOPIC: Gaining Legitimacy

The Nobel committee stated, “the Peacekeeping Forces through their efforts have made important contributions… Thus, the world organization has come to play a more central part in world affairs and has been invested with increasing trust”. This demonstrates how the UN was able to slowly rebuild its legitimacy as an international peacekeeping force and show its effectiveness in aiding conflict.

Emma

("Our History")

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(Photo of the UN involved with human rights issues.)

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SUBTOPIC: Gaining Legitimacy

After the Cold War came to an end, the UN expanded its peacekeeping operations vastly to be even more complex enterprises. The UN was asked to handle a wider range of tasks other than military operations. This included: human rights monitoring, building governance, and security sector reform.

Dani

("Our History")

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(UN humanitarian worker supporting refugees who are in need of shelter, food, or protection.)

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Rise in Numbers as a Result of a Common Purpose (1994)

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Rise in Numbers as a Result of a Common Purpose (1994)

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SUBTOPIC: Gaining Legitimacy

While the military remained the face of the peacekeeping operations, the UN created many more forces such as

1. Administrators

2. Economists

3. Humanitarian workers

As the purpose and goal of the UN, to maintain peace, became more widely known, the peacekeeping operations rose from 11,000 to 75,0000.

Jordan

("Our History")

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SUBTOPIC: Losing Legitimacy

The general success of the peacekeeping operations and the increase in support of the UN led to very high expectations that could not always be achieved. This led to several failed mission in which the UN was not able to provide peace and resolution. Examples of failed missions are the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda and the UN operation in Somalia II.

Emma

("Our History")

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(Somali Civil War (1991-Now): The failure of the UN peacekeeping mission caused 500,000 civilian deaths in Somali.)

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SUBTOPIC: Losing Legitimacy

Criticism of the UN peacekeeping operations rose as a result of the failed missions and inability to reach peace agreements in international conflicts. As civilian casualties and hostilities increased, the reputation of the UN suffered, and their legitimacy was put into question.

Dani

("Our History")("Twelve times")

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Subtopic: Gaining Legitimacy

The UN lowered the amount of peacekeeping operations they undertook in order to have a period of self-reflection and prevent future failures. Soon, after a year of assessment, the role of the UN was reaffirmed and they began to partake in more operations in many countries such as Angola, Guatemala, and Haiti.

Jordan

("Our History")

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Reforms and New Operations (Starting in 1999 and Through the 21 Century)

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Reforms and New Operations (Starting in 1999 and Through the 21 Century)

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SUBTOPIC: Gaining Legitimacy

A reform was introduced in the UN with a goal of strengthening the capacity to deliver peace and manage operations. This led to an increase in complex tasks that the UN partook in, demonstrating the increased trust in the effectiveness of the UN. This started in 1999, when the UN helped Indonesia become an independent country.

Emma

("Our History")

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(Map of the United Nation's current peacekeeping missions.)

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SUBTOPIC: Loosing/Gaining Legitimacy

Today, a little more than 110,000 military, police and civilian staff currently serve in 14 peacekeeping missions. The UN and the peacekeeping operations still face numerous challenges and the UN will have to continue to work to prove its effectiveness and maintain its essential role in our world.

Dani

("Our History")