UN Through The Lens of Realism (Tannett, B. 2012) Class Lecture

UN Through The Lens of Realism (Tannett, B. 2012) Class Lecture

1. R: L idealistic principles

   • Unsuccessful Utopian Ideas
     • Formulated in a moment of optimism post WWII
   • Concerned w/ Pow + St Interests
     • State centric:
       • Created by States for States
       • Sovereignity of St more important
       • oppose St interference in Constitution
     • Power
       • Security Council: permanent members - Veto
       • Acknowledging existence of power politics
       • Power shapes attitudes in UN
       • Resource of power and instrument of policy
       • ?Americas hegemony: HQ - UN = NY,US
       • power exceeds Liberal ideas
       • Privileges to greater powers to avoid failure
     • UN an instrument
       • aim to achieve interests
       • Increase status
       • Veto - enables St to oppose aims of other St
         • e.g. China for Taiwan
         • e.g. Russia &China Veto Syria resolution
       • Using influence to gain favors = acheive goals
   • Failure of Cooperation
     • Wars UN intended to end continued
     • Vetoes during Cold War
     • Vetoes concerning current Syrian civil war
   • Example of Failure
     • Balkan War 1995, 1999
       • Srebenica 1995 8,000+ killed UN-peacekeepers stood by
       • Kosovo, 1999. Deaths:130,000 NATO air strike w/out security council permission.