The United Nations (DP IB Global Politics: SL): Revision Note

The role and significance of the United Nations

• The United Nations (UN) plays a central role in global governance by promoting peace, security, cooperation and development between states

  • It provides a platform for dialogue, helps manage international conflicts and supports economic and social progress worldwide

• The significance of the UN lies in its ability to:

  • Facilitate cooperation between states

  • Promote international law and norms

  • Address global challenges such as conflict, poverty and human rights abuses

• However, its effectiveness is often limited by state sovereignty, political disagreements and unequal power structures

General achievements and limitations of the UN

The UN Charter and the General Assembly

• The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation of countries that aims to maintain global peace and security and promote cooperation on issues like human rights, development and international law

The UN Charter

• The UN Charter is a document that sets out the principles, goals and purpose of the organisation.

  • The charter was created in October 1945 and is the founding document of the UN

  • The charter emphasises the interconnected nature of global governance

  • The charter is considered an instrument of international law

• To be a member state, it is expected that the principles below will be respected as norms

UN charter principles

The General Assembly

• The UN’s core structure is made up of key organs, including the General Assembly and the Security Council, which perform different roles in global governance

• The UN requires state representatives to take part in discussions and debates regarding political issues which are of global relevance and budgetary issues.

  • They also collaboratively write resolutions which are proposals for possible courses of action and international laws

• The group meets in New York from September to January but can remain in session much longer if needed

  • Currently 193 states are represented

  • Other actors, including NGOs and nation-states, attend and participate but have no voting rights

    • Non-voting actors include the EU, Palestine and Red Cross/Red Crescent

• Some of the political issues on which representatives worked together in 2025 included:

  • peacekeeping

  • human trafficking

  • human rights in Syria

  • the rights of children

  • protection of migrants

  • tackling terrorism

Security Council

• The UN Security Council (UNSC) is the most powerful body of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security, including hard power to impose sanctions or approve military action

• It was created because large groups of people are unable to make quick and decisive decisions

  • This group has significantly more power than the General Assembly

  • Any resolutions it  passes become binding international laws

• There are 5 permanent members of the UNSC

  • USA

  • China

  • Russia

  • United Kingdom

  • France 

• Permanent members have the right to veto any resolution, meaning if one of them rejects it, it fails instantly

• There are also 10 temporary members of the UNSC - these states hold two-year terms

UN Agencies and Programmes

• The United Nations (UN) operates a large network of agencies, programmes and organisations that work together to address global political, economic and social issues.

• These organisations are designed to support states, guide international cooperation and respond to global challenges

• Many UN agencies focus on promoting key UN goals, including:

  • Human rights – protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals worldwide

  • Sustainable development – reducing poverty and supporting economic, environmental and social progress

  • Peace and security – preventing conflict and supporting peaceful resolutions to disputes

• Different UN bodies specialise in particular areas of global governance

Examples of UN agencies and programmes

Rights and justice

• The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) monitors human rights conditions around the world

• It investigates abuses, holds debates on human rights issues and encourages states to improve their policies and laws

• The council also carries out Universal Periodic Reviews, where each UN member state’s human rights record is examined

Development and sustainability

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works to reduce poverty and promote sustainable economic and social development

• It supports countries by providing expertise, funding and advice on issues such as education, climate change, governance and economic growth

• The UNDP also helps coordinate global development goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Peace and conflict

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the main judicial body of the UN

• It settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on international law

• By resolving disagreements peacefully through legal rulings, the ICJ helps support international stability and conflict resolution