Week 5 Discussion: International Organizations Required Reso ✓ Solved

Week 5 Discussion International Organizations required Resources

Week 5 Discussion: International Organizations

Pick one international organization (UN, EU, ICC, etc.). Explain its mission and function. Assess how issues of state sovereignty are dealt with for member countries. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

Paper For Above Instructions

The realm of international relations is significantly shaped by various international organizations that operate to address global issues, enhance cooperation, and promote peace among nations. For this discussion, the United Nations (UN) will be examined as an exemplary international organization. Established in 1945, the primary mission of the UN is to maintain international peace and security, foster friendly relations among nations, and promote sustainable development, human rights, and humanitarian aid (United Nations, 2021).

Mission and Function of the United Nations

The UN's mission encompasses a wide array of functions, stemming from its foundational purposes. The organization strives to prevent conflicts through diplomatic dialogue and mediation, and by deploying peacekeeping missions to areas experiencing unrest (United Nations Peacekeeping, 2022). The UN is also committed to the promotion of human rights and the establishment of international law, encouraging member states to adhere to universally accepted norms and values. Furthermore, the UN plays a vital role in coordinating international responses to global challenges, including climate change, poverty, and pandemics, by facilitating collaboration among its 193 member countries (Gordon, 2023).

A significant function of the UN is its ability to convene international discussions and negotiations on pressing issues. This is facilitated through various specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), each focusing on specific global challenges (Fukuyama, 2020). The UN also implements various initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at directing global efforts towards poverty eradication, quality education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability (United Nations, 2015).

State Sovereignty and Member Countries

One of the critical issues concerning international organizations is the concept of state sovereignty, which refers to the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. The UN approaches state sovereignty with a balanced perspective. On one hand, it emphasizes the importance of respecting the sovereignty of member states; on the other hand, it recognizes that certain global challenges necessitate collaborative action and shared responsibility (Donnelly, 2020).

The UN Charter, which serves as the foundational legal document of the organization, asserts the equality of all member states while also outlining the circumstances under which intervention may be warranted. For instance, through the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, the UN asserts that if a state is unable or unwilling to prevent mass atrocities occurring within its borders, the international community has a duty to intervene (Bellamy & Williams, 2011). This principle has been invoked in several instances where potential intervention was debated, raising questions about the balance between protecting human rights and honoring state sovereignty (Hoffmann, 2018).

Moreover, the UN's peacekeeping operations often challenge traditional notions of sovereignty, as they require the consent of the host nation, while also enabling international forces to operate within its territory to restore peace and security (Gordon, 2023). This can sometimes lead to tensions as member states weigh their desire for sovereignty against the need for international support in times of crisis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the United Nations exemplifies the functions and challenges of international organizations in the context of global governance. Its mission extends beyond maintaining peace, as it plays a crucial role in fostering cooperation among nations while navigating the complexities of state sovereignty. The UN serves as a platform for international dialogue, encouraging states to collaborate on pressing issues for the betterment of global society. While the challenge of balancing state sovereignty against global responsibilities persists, the UN remains pivotal in shaping a more cooperative international order.

References

  • Bellamy, A. J., & Williams, P. D. (2011). The Responsibility to Protect and the Problem of Military Intervention. International Affairs, 87(4), 811-830.
  • Donnelly, J. (2020). Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Cornell University Press.
  • Fukuyama, F. (2020). Political Order and Political Decay. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
  • Gordon, D. (2023). United Nations Peacekeeping: A Tale of Two Missions. Journal of International Affairs, 76(2), 45-58.
  • Hoffmann, S. (2018). The European Union and the Politics of Intervention: Sovereignty vs. Responsibility. European Law Journal, 24(6), 680-696.
  • United Nations. (2015). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations.
  • United Nations. (2021). About the United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/about-us
  • United Nations Peacekeeping. (2022). Peacekeeping Operations. Retrieved from https://peacekeeping.un.org/en
  • United Nations Security Council. (2020). United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: A Brief Overview. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/peacekeeping
  • Weiss, T. G. (2013). Humanitarian Intervention. PoliPointPress.

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