The Principle of Consonance in Global Organization : The Case of the United Nations

Financial contributions are one among several ways that states provide support for the United Nations. Different levels of contributions may serve as one measure of support, but differences in the size and wealth of states make comparisons of absolute amounts contributed misleading. In this study, member contributions from 1946 through 1969 are examined from a number of perspectives, including a state's relative capacity-to-pay. The results indicate that the United States has not been a particularly generous supporter of the UN even though its support levels have been higher than those of the Soviet Union. In general, smaller and poorer states have tended to assume heavier burdens in UN financing than larger and richer states; the trend over time has been toward increasing burdens for those least able to pay. If these tentative results and other studies of contributions are combined with investigations of other forms of support for the UN, we should be able to develop a fuller understanding of the evolution of commitments toward global organization.

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Partners in peace? The UN, regional organizations, and peace-keeping

Review of International Studies ◽

10.1017/s026021050011798x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 411-433 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Michael Barnett

Keyword(s):

World War Ii ◽

United Nations ◽

San Francisco ◽

Security Council ◽

Regional Organizations ◽

Global Organization ◽

The Future ◽

The United Nations ◽

United Nations Charter

Living in the shadow of the United Nations and paralysed by the superpowers for much of the post-World War II period, few regional organizations have lived a celebrated life. Few issues proved as divisive and contentious at the drafting of the United Nations Charter as the UN's future relationship to regional organizations. If some at San Francisco believed that the future global organization might be assisted by several regional pillars, the ‘Wilsonian tendency to identify regionalism with war-breeding competitive alliances survived’, and most who were present at the creation were determined to ensure that the future global organization had seniority and superiority over any present or future regional organization. Although Chapter VIII of the UN Charter did stake out a potential role for regional organizations, including the possibility that they might prevent conflicts from being referred to the Security Council, the language adopted reflected the contentious and unresolved nature of the proceedings: ‘The Security Council shall encourage the development of pacific settlements of local disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies either on the initiative of the states concerned or by reference from the Security Council.’ The subsequent forty-five years suggests that the UN found only limited use for regional organizations.

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Introduction. We the peoples: the Promise of the United Nations

The United Nations: A Very Short Introduction ◽

10.1093/actrade/9780190222703.003.0001 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Jussi M. Hanhimäki

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

United Nations ◽

International Law ◽

Social Progress ◽

Standards Of Living ◽

Global Organization ◽

Peace And Security ◽

The United Nations

What was the purpose of the United Nations? First, it was to safeguard peace and security. Second, it was to restore faith in human rights. Third, it was to uphold respect for international law. Finally, the UN wanted to promote social progress and better standards of living. The Introduction asks: has the UN been able to achieve all, some, or any of these goals? The UN might not have quite lived up to the hopes of its founders, but it is the only truly global organization in history. The UN might be deeply flawed and in need of reform, but it is still needed.

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