INSTITUTIONS That Developed in a Globalized World [AP World History Review—Unit 9 Topic 8]

Summary

This video explores the role of supranational organizations in a globalized world, focusing primarily on the United Nations (UN). Created after World War II, the UN aims to prevent war and promote international cooperation. Key bodies like the General Assembly, which addresses global policies and humanitarian efforts like UNICEF, and the Security Council, responsible for maintaining peace, are highlighted. Despite challenges, such as the veto power of permanent members like Russia, the UN plays a pivotal role in addressing global issues and fostering cooperation in the context of globalization.

Takeaways

• 😀 The United Nations (UN) was created after World War II to prevent war and promote international cooperation among member nations.
• 😀 The UN aims to improve global communication and facilitate the resolution of international issues through negotiation, rather than military conflict.
• 😀 The United Nations has several bodies, with the General Assembly and the Security Council being the two primary ones discussed in the video.
• 😀 The General Assembly consists of representatives from all member nations, which total 193 states today, and its role is to discuss and make policies for global issues.
• 😀 The General Assembly created UNICEF in 1946 to provide welfare services to children worldwide, especially in emergencies or after disasters.
• 😀 Newly independent states during the decolonization period joined the UN, and the General Assembly became an important platform for their concerns.
• 😀 The Security Council, another key UN body, is responsible for maintaining global peace and consists of five permanent members with veto power (US, China, France, Russia, and the UK).
• 😀 The veto power of the permanent members has been a point of contention, as they can block resolutions that do not align with their interests.
• 😀 A recent example of the UN's veto power was Russia's veto of a condemnation of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• 😀 The UN's peacekeeping efforts have had mixed results, such as successful negotiations in Liberia (2003), but failures like the slow response during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, despite having peacekeepers present.

Q & A

What was the main purpose behind the creation of the United Nations (UN)?

The United Nations was created after World War II with the primary goal of preventing war and facilitating cooperation among nations through negotiation and dialogue, rather than through conflict.

How did the United Nations differ from its predecessor, the League of Nations?

The United Nations aimed to address the weaknesses of the League of Nations by having more authority to enforce its resolutions, which the League lacked. The UN had mechanisms like military peacekeepers and economic sanctions to maintain global peace, unlike the League.

What are the two main bodies of the United Nations discussed in the script?

The two main bodies of the United Nations discussed are the General Assembly and the Security Council.

How many countries are currently members of the UN, and which two are permanent observers?

There are 193 member states in the United Nations, with two countries, Vatican City and Palestine, serving as permanent observers.

Why is Palestine not a full member of the United Nations?

Palestine has not been accepted as a full member due to political reasons, particularly opposition from permanent members of the UN Security Council, such as the United States, due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

What significant humanitarian initiative did the General Assembly create in 1946?

The General Assembly created UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) in 1946 to provide social welfare services to children worldwide, including child immunizations, education, and disaster relief.

How does the Security Council maintain global peace?

The Security Council works towards maintaining global peace by sending military peacekeepers to stabilize violent situations, imposing economic sanctions on nations violating international laws, and condemning human rights violations.

What is the significance of the veto power held by the five permanent members of the Security Council?

The veto power allows any of the five permanent members (US, China, France, Russia, and the UK) to block any resolution they disagree with, which has sometimes led to conflicts and the failure to prevent wars, as seen during the Cold War or in the case of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

How have the peacekeeping efforts of the UN been both successful and unsuccessful?

The UN's peacekeeping efforts have been successful, such as in Liberia in 2003, where a ceasefire was negotiated after a civil war. However, they were unsuccessful in Rwanda in 1994, where a slow response led to the deaths of an estimated 1 million people during the genocide.

How has globalization influenced the formation and function of supranational organizations like the United Nations?

Globalization has facilitated the creation of supranational organizations like the United Nations by shrinking the world through advancements in communication, travel, and economics, requiring a coordinated approach to global issues such as war, economic stability, and human rights.