Globalization

One of most visible sign of the globalization of politics is evident in the establishment of the United Nations. The United Nations is an international organization that aims to ensure collective peace and security, providing assistance to humanitarian crises in the world. In the short history of the UN, some have argued that the UN has failed in its duty to uphold its intended objectives and aims. Also, some argue how the UN is filled with so much bureaucracy that undermines its effectiveness as an international body.

The most poignant example of UN’s failure to achieve its intended objectives and aims would nevertheless be the Rwandan genocide. Till today, it remains the stark reminder of the need for prompt and decisive international intervention. When the killings began on 6 April 1994 , the UN deployed peacekeeping troops to preserve peace and security. Later in light of the escalating violence, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to withdraw their peacekeeping troops. In a just a few days, thousands of Tutsis had been murdered. Yet throughout the carnage, the UN studiously refrained from labeling the mass killings as Genocide. Had the term been used, the UN would have been legally obliged to intervene, according to Article 1 of the convention on the prevention and punishment of genocide , which was adopted by UN. This is a prime example to demonstrate how UN has failed in achieving her intended aims.



Also, the UN suffers from a bloated bureaucracy, in which seniority is not linked to ability, resulting in painfully slow decision-making and operational failure in such crises as Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Some UN organisations, such as UNESCO have been viewed as so corrupt, countries such as the USA and the UK have withdrawn from them , while the US Congress has long withheld part of the dues it owes to the UN in protest against corruption and money-wasting.

There are also institutional problems associated with the General Assembly and the Security Council, whereby GA resolutions with widespread support can be stymied by a single veto from one of the Permanent 5 . This has led to unilateral action by countries such as the USA and organisations such as NATO, undermining the authority of the UN, and to a lack of credibility for the UN in dealing with issues such as Israel and Palestine, where the USA among the P5 has strong interests. For example, in the United States of America, the establishment of the Clinton doctrine allows US to forcefully intervene to prevent human rights abuses, with or without the authority of the UN Security Council.

In a nutshell, the UN has shown itself to be a “tired” organization – worn-out from all its institutional problems and bloated bureaucracy. Indeed, the UN has been inefficient in the past, evident in operational failures in Bosnia and Rwanda. However, our saving grace is to know that UN’s actions are evolutionary. UN has succeeded in Kosovo in 2001, ending genocide swiftly, despite failing in 1994.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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