In GE 5 The Contemporary World: Objectives 2 Discussions 2 6 References 7
In GE 5 The Contemporary World: Objectives 2 Discussions 2 6 References 7
In GE 5 The Contemporary World: Objectives 2 Discussions 2 6 References 7
in
GE 5 The Contemporary World
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Objectives 2
Discussions 2
Summary 6
References 7
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Unit II
Objectives
At the end of the learning sessions, the students will be able to:
a. identify the roles and functions of the United Nations;
b. identify the challenges of global governance in the twenty-first century; and
c. explain the relevance of the state amid globalization.
Global Governance
Global governance brings together diverse actors to coordinate collective
action at the level of the planet. The goal of global governance, roughly defined, is to
provide global public goods, particularly peace and security, justice and mediation
systems for conflict, functioning markets and unified standards for trade and industry.
The leading institution in charge of global governance today is the United
Nations (UN). It was founded in 1945, in the wake of the Second World War, as a
way to prevent future conflicts on that scale. The United Nations does not directly
bring together the people of the world, but sovereign nation-states, and currently
counts 193 members who make recommendations through the UN General
Assembly. The UN’s mandate is to preserve global security, which it does
particularly through the Security Council. In addition the UN can settle international
legal issues through the International Court of Justice, and implements its key
decisions through the Secretariat, led by the Secretary General.
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of issues that need to be tackled at the international and supranational level.
Subsidiarity suggests an important role for regional cooperation in addressing issues
of mutual concern.
Security Council
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the
maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent
and 10 non-permanent members). Each Member has one vote. Under the Charter,
all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions. The Security
Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of
aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and
recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the
Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force
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to maintain or restore international peace and security. The Security Council has a
Presidency, which rotates, and changes, every month.
(a) Daily programme of work of the Security Council
(b) Subsidiary organs of the Security Council
Trusteeship Council
The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter, under
Chapter XIII, to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had
been placed under the administration of seven Member States, and ensure that
adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and
independence. By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-government or
independence. The Trusteeship Council suspended operation on 1 November 1994.
By a resolution adopted on 25 May 1994, the Council amended its rules of procedure
to drop the obligation to meet annually and agreed to meet as occasion required --
by its decision or the decision of its President, or at the request of a majority of its
members or the General Assembly or the Security Council.
Secretariat
The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of
international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as
mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.
The Secretary-General is chief administrative officer of the Organization, appointed
by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-
year, renewable term. UN staff members are recruited internationally and locally, and
work in duty stations and on peacekeeping missions all around the world. But
serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the
founding of the United Nations, hundreds of brave men and women have given their
lives in its service.
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deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.
Comprising all 192 Members of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for
multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the
Charter.
It also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting and the
codification of international law. The Assembly meets in regular session intensively
from September to December each year, and thereafter as required.
Functions and Powers of the General Assembly. According to the Charter of the
United Nations, the General Assembly may:
1.Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of
cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament;
2.Discuss any question relating to international peace and security and,
except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security
Council, make recommendations on it;
3.Discuss, with the same exception, and make recommendations on any
questions within the scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of
any organ of the United Nations;
4.Initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political
cooperation, the development and codification of international law, the realization of
human rights and fundamental freedoms, and international collaboration in the
economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, educational and health fields;
5.Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that
might impair friendly relations among nations;
6.Receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other United
Nations organs;
7.Consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial
assessments of Member States;
8.Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members
of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the
Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General.
Functions and Powers of the Security Council. Under the United Nations Charter,
the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
• to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and
purposes of the United Nations;
• to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
• to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
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• to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
• to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to
recommend what action should be taken;
• to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving
the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
• to take military action against an aggressor;
• to recommend the admission of new Members;
• to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
• to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General
and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of
Justice.
Summary
Global governance or world governance is a movement towards political
cooperation among transnational actors, aimed at negotiating responses to problems
that affect more than one state or region. Global governance is essential but
fragmented, complex and little understood. In this context, the key questions raised
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are, how to reform institutions, how to develop alternative institutions, and how to
use the new possibilities of technology to improve governance.
Activity
Explain your answer.
1. How can nation-states address the challenges of global governance?
References
Other Source
www.globalization101.org
www.globalchallenges.org
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