The UN As Global Police Force And Negotiation Facilitator ✓ Solved

The UN as global police force and negotiation facilitator

Complete the Midterm Exam by composing a 6-page research-based essay response to the prompt below. The assignment must be in current APA format. Font 12 New Times Roman Essay Theme: The UN as global police force and negotiation facilitator. Reasoning with clear ideas and examples in any manner you choose, whether separately or integrated, answer the questions below indicating the limits and possibilities of justification for the UN as a global police force or negotiation facilitator between hostile or potentially hostile states. Include the following related questions: What is the scope of its authority to act as an enforcement institution or negotiation facilitator? What kinds of international problems does it seek to ameliorate or resolve, and does the seriousness of these problems warrant a global rather than regional or state response? What are its methods and instruments of containment, enforcement, or persuasion—how does it get peoples and states to comply with its dictates or at least restrain themselves? What are the chief limits of its ability to act as a legitimate global police authority or negotiation facilitator? Why does Mearsheimer believe that international institutions like the UN offer a ‘false promise’ of greater security than the current state system can offer?

Paper For Above Instructions

The United Nations (UN), established in 1945, has been periodically scrutinized regarding its role as a global police force and negotiation facilitator. This essay aims to explore this role, addressing the limits and possibilities of justification for the UN in its interactions with hostile or potentially hostile states. By examining the UN's scope of authority, the international issues it seeks to ameliorate, its methods for enforcement, and the limitations it faces in asserting itself as an effective global authority, this essay will argue that while the UN possesses tools for peacekeeping and negotiation, significant challenges remain that hinder its effectiveness and legitimacy.

Scope of Authority

The UN's authority arises from its founding charter, which grants it the responsibility to maintain international peace and security and promote cooperation among nations (United Nations, 1945). As an enforcement institution, its scope includes peacekeeping operations, conflict resolution, and promoting human rights. The UN can authorize military action under the auspices of peacekeeping when there is a threat to peace, a breach of peace, or an act of aggression, as outlined in Chapter VII of the UN Charter. However, such interventions often require agreement among the five permanent members of the Security Council, which can lead to paralysis in decision-making due to conflicting national interests (Mansbach & Taylor, 2011).

International Problems and Global Response

The UN seeks to address various international issues including armed conflicts, human rights violations, environmental challenges, and humanitarian crises. The organization has established numerous specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to tackle these challenges (Gordy, 2018). However, the seriousness of the issues at hand can often necessitate a global rather than regional approach. For instance, the Syrian refugee crisis exemplifies a need for a coordinated global response as millions of displaced individuals impacted neighboring countries and beyond (Betts, 2013). This demonstrates that while regional actors can play a role, the extensive ramifications of such crises demand a collective effort involving global governance structures like the UN.

Methods of Containment and Enforcement

The methods employed by the UN to enforce compliance among nations encompass diplomatic engagement, sanctions, and peacekeeping missions. Sanctions serve as a critical tool to exert pressure on non-compliant states, aiming to modify behavior without resorting to military intervention (Neak, 2016). Peacekeeping forces act as both a deterrent and a facilitator of dialogue between conflicting parties. However, the effectiveness of these methods is often limited by the international community's willingness to follow through on enforcements and the sovereignty of states that may resist external influence (Pattison, 2016).

Limits of Authority

Despite its foundational principles, the UN faces substantial limitations in asserting itself as a legitimate global police force. One major limitation is the political dynamics within the Security Council, where the veto power of the five permanent members can stymie intervention efforts (Böhmelt et al., 2016). Additionally, the UN's ability to intervene is often hampered by the necessity of state consent, and conflicting national interests can lead to inaction, as seen in the Rwandan genocide when the UN failed to intervene decisively (Schoenlaub, 2016). Moreover, the reliance on voluntary contributions from member states can compromise the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, impacting their depth and reach (Møller, 2017).

Mearsheimer’s Critique

John Mearsheimer’s perspective on international institutions like the UN is fundamentally skeptical. He asserts that these institutions offer a “false promise” of security, arguing that states are primarily motivated by their national interests rather than international cooperation (Mearsheimer, 1994). He posits that great powers are unlikely to yield their sovereignty to a supranational authority and that, in the anarchic international system, states would prioritize their security over the collective ambitions of organizations like the UN. This viewpoint underscores the inherent limitations of the UN’s authority and reinforces the notion that realpolitik often prevails over collaborative international governance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UN’s role as a global police force and negotiation facilitator exemplifies both potential and limitations. Its mandate to maintain international peace and facilitate negotiation is underscored by its various strategies, including peacekeeping and sanctions. Nevertheless, the efficacy of these tools is often undermined by political structures, state sovereignty, and the influence of national interests. Moreover, critiques such as those articulated by Mearsheimer challenge the effectiveness of the UN in promoting global security. As the international landscape continues to evolve, it becomes imperative for the UN to navigate these complexities while striving to fulfill its foundational mission of fostering peace and cooperation among nations.

References

• Betts, A. (2013). Mobility and Forced Migration. Migration Information Source.
• Böhmelt, T., et al. (2016). The Role of the United Nations Security Council in Peacekeeping Operations. Journal of International Relations.
• Gordy, I. (2018). The Role of UN Agencies in Global Crisis Management. International Journal of Human Services.
• Mansbach, R. & Taylor, K. (2011). Introduction to Global Politics. Routledge.
• Møller, B. (2017). Peacekeeping: The UN's Role and Challenges. International Peacekeeping.
• Mearsheimer, J. (1994). The False Promise of International Institutions. International Security.
• Neak, S. (2016). The Impact of UN Sanctions on States. Global Governance Review.
• Pattison, J. (2016). Humanitarian intervention and international law. Cambridge University Press.
• Schoenlaub, P. (2016). The UN and the Rwandan Genocide: Lessons Learned. Journal of Conflict Resolution.
• United Nations. (1945). Charter of the United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter