United Nations

From Last Class

According just war theory, what are the main considerations when contemplating whether to enter into war?

Prescribed Content

The United Nations
Cooperation: Collective Security
Global Governance
Third-party involvement in conflict

Activating Your Thinking

In your groups, list anything and everything you know about the United Nations.

Watch the video at the start of this article. We will read the article itself as a conclusion to our discussion on the United Nations at the end of the lesson.

Lesson Content

United Nations

The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power

Education of an Idealist (UN)

Guiding Questions

According to Power, what makes the UN unique or special?
What goals does she see the UN as working towards?
What arguments does she offer to critics of the UN?

The Role of the UN Secretary-GeneralThe United Nations’ top leadership position has broad authority to steer the organization’s agenda, but its impact has varied widely since 1946.

Guiding Questions

List the various responsibilities of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Role of the UN General AssemblyThe UN General Assembly hosts a much-watched debate of world leaders each year but has struggled to make its work more substantive. The seventy-fourth session will likely be dominated by issues including climate change, tensions in the Middle East, and the humanitarian situation in Venezuela.

Guiding Questions

What are the responsibilities of the UN General Assembly?
Who is part of the UN General Assembly?
Why might a state struggle to become a part of the General Assembly?
How might a nation be punished or suspended from the General Assembly?

The UN Security CouncilThe UN Security Council is the premier global body for maintaining international peace and security, but it faces steady calls for reform to better meet twenty-first-century challenges.

Guiding Questions

Describe the structure of the Security Council.
What is the role of the UNSC?
Explain the role of the veto.
What is the difference between chapter VI and chapter VII of the UN charter?
What two roles have regional organizations begun to play in UN peacekeeping?
Where is the UN currently carrying out peacekeeping missions?
What are smart or targetting sanctions and why have they been a recent focus of the UNSC?
Choose one of the 14 current UN sanctions from here. What specific things in the country you chose are the sanctions targeting?
What are the two ways in which the UNSC can authorize force?
What is R2P/What is the state's responsibility and what is the international community's responsibility?
Summarize each of the five criticisms of the UNSC.
Why is reform of the UNSC unlikely?

The UN Security Council isn't working. Will it ever be completely reformed?Canada’s recent failure to gain a seat on the UN Security Council indicates the country still has work to do but also highlights the need to reform the powerful body.

Guiding Questions

What arguments are offered as to why the UN Security Council requires reforming?
Of the alternatives for reform, which one do you think is:
- most likely to be adopted? Why?
- the best reform alternative? Why?

Global Politics in Action

The UN.pdf

Choose one of the "specialized agencies" and one of the “funds and programmes” to research further.
- Describe their function
- What are two commendations
- What are two criticisms
- A current example of the agency and fund or programme in the news
- Present to your group.

Chagos Islands dispute: Mauritius calls US and UK 'hypocrites'Prime Minister Jugnauth says the UK cannot talk about human rights and remain in the Chagos Islands.

Guiding Questions

The ICJ and General Assembly have both indicated that the Chagos Islands should be returned to Mauritius. Why hasn't that happened?
In what ways does the UK have a legitimate claim to the islands and in what ways do they not have a legitimate claim?
What challenges does this case expose when considering issues of sovereignty?

Checking For Understanding

70 years and half a trillion dollars later: what has the UN achieved?The United Nations has saved millions of lives and boosted health and education across the world. But it is bloated, undemocratic – and very expensive.

Guided Reading Question:

Based on the Guardian article (and video), create a T-chart outlining the "pros" (success, accomplishments, etc) and the "cons" (failures, issues, problems, etc) of the UN.