The United Nations

Restructuring the UN and India’s position.

Political Science5 questions
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The essentials

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945, after the Second World War, as the successor to the League of Nations. The UN Charter was signed by 51 original member states, and the UN formally came into existence on 24 October 1945. India was one of the original members. Its main aims are to prevent war, settle disputes peacefully, promote social and economic development, and protect human rights.

The UN has six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General. In the General Assembly every member state has one vote.

The Security Council has five permanent members (the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. Each permanent member has a veto: a negative vote by any one of them blocks a decision on substantive matters.

Key points

  • Reform debates cover both the structures (especially the Security Council) and the processes (how decisions are made) of the UN.
  • Arguments for reform: the Council reflects the world of 1945; many new states have joined since; Asia, Africa and Latin America are under-represented among permanent members.
  • Criteria discussed for new permanent members include economic power, military power, contribution to the UN budget and peacekeeping, size of population, respect for democracy and human rights, and regional representation.
  • Steps taken include the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council (2006), which replaced the Commission on Human Rights.
  • India's claim to a permanent seat rests on its large population, its democratic system, its long participation in UN peacekeeping, its growing economy and its regular financial contributions.
  • Some states oppose particular candidates or question whether adding permanent members with vetoes is desirable.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking non-permanent members are elected for five years. Their term is two years.
  • Believing the veto exists in the General Assembly. It applies only to the permanent members in the Security Council.

Practice questions

On which date did the United Nations formally come into existence?Easy
For how long are the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council elected?Easy
Which feature of the Security Council allows any one permanent member to block a decision on a substantive matter?Medium
Which body was created in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights?Medium
Which of the following is commonly cited in support of India's claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council?Hard
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