Is the United Nations Still Uniting Nations?

"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." -Albert Einstein

The Second World War was the most catastrophic armed conflict in the history of humanity. At the end of all the fighting, dozens of nations lie ruined and destroyed. On October 24, 1945, the United Nations was created to avoid another war on that scale. Over 80 years since this international institution was established; it has branched out and expanded beyond simply stopping wars. However, the question remains: Is the United Nations still uniting nations, or is it just another apparatus for global powers to project their influence? 

Image: Mary Altaffer/Reuters

Since 1945, the UN has taken up a role in negotiating more than 170 peace settlements that have ended regional conflicts. Examples include ending the Iran-Iraq war, facilitating the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, and ending the civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala. UN peacekeeping has also made a considerable difference in unstable locations with recently completed or ongoing operations such as Sierra Leone, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Timor-Leste, Liberia, Haiti, and Kosovo. By providing basic security guarantees and responding to crises, these UN operations have supported political transitions. They have helped countries to close the chapter of conflict and open a path to normal development, even if major peacebuilding challenges remain.

Moreover, the UN donated humanitarian aid to millions in need. In 2023, the UN helped over 128 million people receive life-saving assistance. On a more recent note, the UN has responded to the war in Ukraine, sending 106 billion dollars of humanitarian aid. Humanitarians have fought to prevent hunger, epidemics, and provided shelter and sanitation in some of the world’s most troubled hotspots. 

Though the previous successes of the UN cannot be denied, the organization has come under heavy criticism for its vetoing system. The drafters of the Security Council awarded the position of permanent membership to China, France, the USSR (now the Russian Federation), the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Along with their permanent positions, these 5 nations also had the power to veto (to cancel) any decisions in the Security Council. Many diplomats, politicians, and lawmakers believe that the veto is the “most undemocratic element of the United Nations”. They argue that if any action were to be made against one of the 5 nations, it would be automatically vetoed by said nation. This possibility continues to pose a looming shadow over global politics. Alongside fears of abuse of power, less powerful nations might dealt a short hand and could be forced to conform to the narrative of one of the 5 nations. A notable example would be the recent US vetoes cast against ceasefire resolutions for the war in Gaza. This serves as a good example as the actions taken by the 5 nations cannot be disputed; which can help us analyze the power dynamics in key organs of the UN more critically. 

Ultimately, the United Nations has made a lasting impact on the history of humankind; but its relevance and utility for the “common good” will continue to be challenged by all sides on the global stage. 

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