John Trent/Laura Schnurr A United Nations Renaissance “Politicians, pundits, and publics are moving inward and building walls whereas addressing global threats requires moving outward and breaking down barriers. More than ever, multilateralism is essential for problem-solving, and more than ever we need a fitter-for-purpose United Nations. Trent and Schnurr provide a persuasive and user- friendly introduction for a new generation of change-makers.” Thomas G. Weiss, Presidential Professor of Political Science, The CUNY Graduate Center, Past President International Studies Association “More than a simple forum or arena for confrontation of opposing interests, the United Nations must become an instrument for world governance. This excellent book, from Trent and Schnurr, goes a long way to push forward this idea.” Modesto Seara-Vazquez, Professor of International Organization, and Rector Oaxaca State University System, Mexico “The United Nations remains an essential global institution for advancing the values and practices of cooperation, development, and human rights, but it also needs reform; and especially it needs realistic proposals that give a way forward while still retaining and promoting the ideals of the Charter. This new volume places the UN in historical and contemporary perspective, identifies its critical strengths, challenges, and flaws in a balanced analysis, and suggests clear and constructive arguments and ideas for the changes that are needed.” Alistair Edgar, Professor of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, Executive Director, Academic Council on the United Nations System EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 “The UN is being put to the test in today's jumbled and fractious global system. There is a foreboding over the growing trend among many member states including three of the permanent members of the Security Council towards anti - internationalist sentiments and the undermining of norms of global cooperation. As the title of this book signals, it is time for a UN Renaissance. This will only happen if there emerges a coalition of key member states, civil society groups, international institutions and good advocacy in the media and from the academic world. This book makes clear why this is such an important cause for our time. And its focus on mobilizing young people to the cause is a worthy recommendation.” Lloyd Axworthy, Past President, University of Winnipeg, former Foreign Minister of Canada “Global issues require well-functioning global institutions. The United Nations and it’s agencies are critical global players that are needed more than ever given the increasingly interconnected world. The UN is vital in helping to create and support the right operating environment so that the Red Cross and Red Crescent and other organizations are able to fulfill their humanitarian mandates. Trent and Schnurr have written a concise and readable publication that should be read by young people the world over. It is hoped future generations would be encouraged to join the ranks in helping to rejuvenate an essential institution.” George Weber, Secretary-General Emeritus, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation; CEO Royal Ottawa Hospital EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 John Trent Laura Schnurr A United Nations Renaissance What the UN is, and what it could be Barbara Budrich Publishers Opladen • Berlin • Toronto 2018 EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Barbara Budrich Publishers. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from Die Deutsche Bibliothek (The German Library) © 2018 by Barbara Budrich Publishers, Opladen, Berlin & Toronto www.barbara-budrich.net ISBN 978-3-8474-0711-9 (Paperback) eISBN 978-3-8474-0860-4 (eBook) Das Werk einschließlich aller seiner Teile ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung außerhalb der engen Grenzen des Urheberrechtsgesetzes ist ohne Zustimmung des Verlages unzulässig und strafbar. Das gilt insbesondere für Vervielfältigungen, Übersetzungen, Mikroverfilmungen und die Einspeiche- rung und Verarbeitung in elektronischen Systemen. Die Deutsche Bibliothek – CIP-Einheitsaufnahme Ein Titeldatensatz für die Publikation ist bei der Deutschen Bibliothek erhältlich. Verlag Barbara Budrich Barbara Budrich Publishers Stauffenbergstr. 7. D-51379 Leverkusen Opladen, Germany 86 Delma Drive. Toronto, ON M8W 4P6 Canada www.barbara-budrich.net Jacket illustration by Bettina Lehfeldt, Kleinmachnow, Germany – www.lehfeldtgraphic.de Copy Edit: Máiréad Collins, Belfast, UK Typesetting: Anja Borkam, Jena – [email protected] EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 Table of Contents List of Illustrations ......................................................................................... 9 List of Abbreviations ................................................................................... 11 Introduction .................................................................................................. 13 Achieving the unthinkable ......................................................................... 13 The global governance deficit ................................................................... 15 The United Nations’ balance sheet ............................................................ 16 Empowering youth .................................................................................... 19 Objectives of the primer ............................................................................ 21 Chapter 1 – Evolving International Organizations: the UN Past and Present .............................................................................. 22 Early international cooperation efforts ...................................................... 22 The Concert of Europe .......................................................................... 23 A note on the creation of the League of Nations ................................... 26 The League of Nations as an institution ................................................ 27 From the League of Nations to the United Nations .............................. 32 Introducing the United Nations ................................................................. 34 The principal organs of the United Nations ............................................... 35 The Security Council ............................................................................ 35 The General Assembly .......................................................................... 38 The Economic and Social Council ........................................................ 41 Trusteeship Council .............................................................................. 43 The International Court of Justice ......................................................... 43 The Secretariat ...................................................................................... 45 Beyond the organs ..................................................................................... 46 The Secretary-General .......................................................................... 46 UN budgets ........................................................................................... 49 The UN System ..................................................................................... 49 International financial institutions and other international actors ......... 51 Chapter 2 – Peace and Security: Fixing the Security Council ................. 56 The Security Council’s functions and activities ........................................ 58 Security Council strengths .................................................................... 58 Security Council weaknesses ................................................................ 61 5 EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 The UN’s peace operations ....................................................................... 64 The Security Council and the future .......................................................... 67 Chapter 3 – Social and Economic Development ........................................ 71 Understanding ‘development’ ................................................................... 71 The first 50 years ....................................................................................... 71 Development in the early years ............................................................. 71 Expanding development efforts ............................................................ 73 The North-South divide ........................................................................ 75 Millennium Development Goals ............................................................... 75 Tallying up the results ........................................................................... 76 Sustainable Development Goals ................................................................ 77 A changed world ................................................................................... 77 More voices at the table ........................................................................ 79 Financing the goals ............................................................................... 81 Looking ahead ........................................................................................... 82 Partnering in a new era of development cooperation ............................ 82 Role for private sector ........................................................................... 84 Role for civil society ............................................................................. 85 Innovation and technology .................................................................... 88 What role for the UN? ........................................................................... 90 Is the UN prepared? ................................................................................... 91 Streamlining the UN development system and ‘Delivering as One’ ........................................................................ 92 Improving business practices ................................................................ 94 Focusing on strengths and priorities ..................................................... 94 ECOSOC reform ................................................................................... 95 Is reform possible? ................................................................................ 97 Chapter 4 – Promoting and Protecting Human Rights ............................ 98 Human rights: one of the UN’s great ideas that too many countries fail to respect ............................................................................................. 98 The fundamental paradox ..................................................................... 98 International human rights law ............................................................. 99 Contradictory interpretations .............................................................. 101 The tremendous cost of violations ...................................................... 102 The United Nations’ Record in Upholding Human Rights ...................... 105 6 EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 From the Commission on Human Rights to the Human Rights Council .............................................................. 106 The Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights .................................. 109 Dealing with the worst violations: the International Criminal Court and ad hoc tribunals ........................ 110 Responsibility to Protect and human security ..................................... 114 Migration, refugees and the humanitarian response ............................ 116 What next? ............................................................................................... 120 Reforms: big and small ....................................................................... 120 Can change happen? ........................................................................... 122 Chapter 5 – Workable Global Institutions: How to Get from Here to There? .............................................................. 124 What we have learnt about understanding world institutions .................. 124 Reviewing the literature on revamping the UN ....................................... 126 Nine popular proposals to transform the UN ........................................... 130 1. A more legitimate Security Council ................................................ 131 2. A more balanced and focused General Assembly ........................... 133 3. An Economic, Social and Environmental Council .......................... 134 4. A reconfigured Human Rights Council ........................................... 135 5. Improved staffing and management practices ................................. 136 6. Autonomous emergency services for the UN ................................. 137 7. Financing the UN ............................................................................ 138 8. Principles and criteria for the Responsibility to Protect .................. 139 9. The dispersion and control of global power .................................... 140 Sequencing reform proposals: where to start ........................................... 143 Four steps for how can we help bring about workable global institutions .................................................................................... 144 Bibliography ............................................................................................... 153 Index ............................................................................................................ 161 7 EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763 List of Illustrations Box 1 Understanding ‘sovereignty’ .......................................................... 24 Box 2 Strengths and failures of the League of Nations ............................ 31 Box 3 The General Assembly’s six Main Committees ............................. 40 Box 4 Understanding ‘international law’ .................................................. 44 Box 5 Secretaries-General, 1945-present.................................................. 47 Box 6 Other ‘actors’ enter the world stage ............................................... 54 Box 7 The UN’s record of achievements in peace and security ............... 61 Box 8 The Security Council’s challenges, problems and failures ............. 63 Box 9 Putting the environment on the agenda ......................................... 73 Box 10 UN Women .................................................................................... 92 Box 11 Global health crises—Ebola response ............................................ 95 Box 12 Key characteristics of human rights ............................................... 99 Box 13 Categories of human rights .......................................................... 100 Box 14 Select examples of current human rights issues ........................... 104 Box 15 Key terms related to the movement of people .............................. 117 Box 16 Improving the working methods of the Security Council ............ 132 Box 17 Ideas for reforming the Human Rights Council ........................... 135 Box 18 An NGO coalition that made history ............................................ 147 Figure 1 Evolution of international organizations, until 1945 ...................... 22 Figure 2 The United Nations System diagram.............................................. 50 Figure 3 United Nations Development Group members (excluding regional commissions and secretariat bodies) by year established ......................................................................... 74 Figure 4 Millennium Development Goals .................................................... 76 Figure 5 Sustainable Development Goals ..................................................... 78 Figure 6 Key differences between the MDGs and SDGs ............................. 80 Figure 7 Populations of concern (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, returnees, stateless persons) from 1951-2015 .............................. 118 9 EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/14/2019 4:54 AM via FORDHAM UNIV AN: 1643172 ; Trent, John.; A United Nations Renaissance : What the UN Is, and What It Could Be Account: s8944763