Rise of the United Nations

Published on 24 Oct 2025

The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1945 after World War II to promote international cooperation, maintain peace and security, and address global challenges. It serves as a forum for nations to work together on issues such as human rights, economic development, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Formation of the United Nations

• Post-WWII Negotiations: In 1944, delegations from the US, UK, Soviet Union, and China (major Allied powers in WWII) met in Washington, DC, to negotiate the postwar world and establish the United Nations (UN).

• Replacing the League of Nations: The UN replaced the ineffective League of Nations, which was created after WWI for peaceful dispute resolution but failed to prevent WWII.

• Dissolution of the League: The League of Nations was formally dissolved in 1946 after proving ineffective in preventing another world war.

• US Role in UN Formation: The US played a key role in establishing the United Nations, with the UN Charter reflecting the vision of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

• The Atlantic Charter: In 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill drafted the Atlantic Charter, emphasizing peace, cooperation, no territorial aggrandizement, and peaceful dispute resolution. It became the basis for the UN Charter

Successes of the United Nations

• Preventing World Wars: The UN has successfully averted further world wars and brought some conflicts to quick resolutions, 

• Example: Conducting successful peacekeeping operations in dozens of countries, including Cambodia, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

• Peaceful Settlements: It negotiated peaceful settlements to end regional conflicts, including controlling situations in Serbia, Yugoslavia, and Africa.

• Global Assembly: The UN provides a world assembly where delegates from 188 countries can interact, ensuring even small countries have a voice.

• Disarmament and Nuclear Treaties: The UN played a significant role in disarming and making the world nuclear-free, with treaties like the Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

• Dismantling Colonialism, Apartheid: UN sanctions contributed to the end of colonialism, imperialism, and apartheid.

• Human Rights Protection: UN is at the forefront of protecting human rights, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

• Limited Economic Role: Despite limitations, the UN supports economic matters, promoting North-South dialogue and an international economic order.

• Social Transformation: UN agencies like WHO, UNICEF, and UNESCO have made significant contributions to global social progress, eliminating diseases like polio, smallpox, and Ebola.

• Institutionalizing International Laws: The UN has established international laws and legal frameworks through various conventions and declarations, covering child rights, women's rights, climate change, and more.

Shortcomings of the United Nations

• Ignoring UN Opinions: The USSR ignored UN opinions on Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the 1950s.

• Ineffectiveness in the Israel-Palestine Conflict: The UN has failed to achieve substantial results in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict despite decades of efforts.

• Inability to Address Major Crises: The UN had no emphatic role in major crises like the Cuban missile crisis and the Vietnam crisis. UN's hesitation and delayed involvement in disputes, such as the Vietnam War, led to accusations of lack of firmness.

• Exposure in Iraq Invasion: The UN's credibility was compromised in the case of the US invasion of Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction.

• Uncontrolled Nuclear Proliferation: The UN couldn't effectively control the horizontal expansion and proliferation of nuclear weapons among nations.

• Lack of Permanent Army: The UN lacks a permanent army, making it difficult to enforce decisions on powerful states prioritizing self-interest, as seen with the USSR's actions in Hungary and Bosnia.

• Failure to Reflect Democratic Aspirations: Despite advocating for democratization, the UN itself lacks democratic representation and decision-making.

• Financial Constraints: The UN always faces a shortage of funds due to the vast scope of its work, relying on voluntary contributions from member states.

• Duplication of Efforts: UN agencies, like WHO and FAO, often duplicate each other's work, leading to inefficiencies and overlapping responsibilities.

UN’s successes in maintaining global peace, advancing human rights, and eliminating diseases underscore its importance as an essential organization fostering unity and cooperation among nations.

Tags:
History & Culture

Keywords:
Rise of the United Nations UN 1945 world war 2 Formation of the United Nations US UK Soviet Union and China Allied powers Washington league of nations Winston Churchill The Atlantic Charter Roosevelt Successes of the United Nations Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Colonialism Apartheid Universal Declaration of Human Rights Shortcomings of the United Nations veto power

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
World History