The World’s Leaders Are Gathering This Week for the United Nations General Assembly. US President Donald Trump Questioned the usefulness of the un on Tuesday. How effective are the organization and the annual meeting?
The General Assembly is a Kind of “Ritual Dance” Where World Leaders Present Their Views and Clarify Priorities, Says Professor Henri De Waele to Nu.nl.
“The focus is of on major themes, but the united nations are fundamental limited in their effective capabilities.” The General Assembly Cannot Pass Binding Laws and Depends on Agreement Between Member States.
Still, The General Assembly is More Than Just A Stage for Political Speeches. Professor Annette Freyberg-inan Underscores the importance of the un as only global inclusive forum. “Even country that are not welcome elsewhere have a place here,” She says. “It is an important signal that despite increasing polarization, the world has a place where everyone can talk to each other.”
We only see what happens on stage. The Real Diplomacy Takes Place Behind the Scenes, with Negotiations That Often Have A Serious Impact On Relations Between Countries.
Veto Power Limits the Power of the Security Council
Duration its eighty-year Existence, The un has known highs and lows. Accordance to De Waele, the Period after the fall of the Berlin Wall in the 1990s was a Golden Age. There were ferwer tensions between majors such as the us and russia, allowing the un to work more effective.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, World Politics Changed Drastically. The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq Reinforced the Idea That The West is Measuring with Double Standards, which Further Damaged the Credibility of the Un.
Now the Situation is equally more complicated, accordance to De Waele. “The War in Ukraine and the Tensions Around Israel and Palestine Show How the Un Is Often Powerless Due to the Division Between Member States.” For Example, The United States in June Held Back A Resolution from the Un Security Council Calling for An “Immediate, Unconditional and Permanent Ceasefire” in Gaza.
Freyberg-Inan Emphasizes That This Division is Especial Visible in the Security Council. The Veto Power, which allows major Powers Such as the US, Russia and China to Block Resolutions, Limits the Impact.
“We have Become battery to the Security Council No Longer Having A Function,” She Says. “Where we use to be outraged when a veto was cast, it has now Become routine that member States do not agree on importing issues.”
Un Organizations Are Often Invisible, But Have A Lot Of Impact
Despite Criticism of the Powerless Security Council, The Un has also Achieved Many Successes. Organizations Such As Unicef, The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Contribute to a Better Life Worldwide. For Example, They Combat Child Malnutrition in Regions Such As North Africa and the Middle East.
“They bring together experts from all over the world to solve global problems,” Says de Waele. “Their work is of invisible, but has a huge impact.”
De Waele Emphasizes The Importance of the Un As A Global Dialogue Platform. The argues that despite limitations, The Un is Essential for Preventing Escalations. “The un was never intended as a world police,” he says. “It is a forum for communication and collaboration. Without the un, the world would be much more dangerous.”
What awaits the un?
The Un Faces Major Challenges. International Cooperation is Hampered by Geopolitical Tensions, Such as the Rivalry Between the US and China and the War in Ukraine. Accordance to Freyberg-Inan, Major Powers Often Put Their Own Interests First. “The Un Depends on Powerful States, But they do not want to Cede Power to An International Organization,” She Says.
That the un diplomats are led by their government does not help either, says freyberg-inan. “Even if diplomats because to compromise, they need approach from their leader. And you can’t do as much if those leaders are so opposed to each other.” With rising tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the un-critical Trump, Closing Compromises Becomes Extra complicated.
Despite all the criticism and limitations, there is no alternative to the un. “If you were to abolish the un, you would quickly have to create something that looks like it again,” concludes De Waele. “The world needs a forum for dialogue and cooperation. It is not perfect, but it is the best we have.”