INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
This is the relation between nations.
It became necessary to develop some good relations after the World War 2 to heal the
wounds of the effects.
This occurs at different levels and categories.
Economic
This involves trade and other commercial activities
1. Diplomatic
Conduct of relations through peaceful means.
This is done through ambassadors
2. Political
This is between countries with similar political activities and institutions
3. Socio-cultural
Understanding of countries with family set up to appreciate the different cultures.
It is in exchange of dancers, musicians, sports etc.
Benefits
1. Promotion of economic growth through trade which enables states to acquire goods they do not
have
2. Promotion of peace and security
3. Promotion of cultural exchanges which enhances international understanding
4. It enhances collective solving of problems of global concerns e.g. terrorism
International Organizations
a) International Governmental Organization (IGO) e.g. UN, Common Wealth & African
Union
b) International Non-governmental Organizations (INGO) e.g. Red Cross, Amnesty
International & Transparency International. Membership may be global, regional or as
otherwise defined.
Benefits of International Government Organizations
[Link] rovide members with a forum to consult
[Link] act as regulators
[Link] enhance peace and security
[Link] contribute to enhancing equitable distribution of facilities.
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION (UNO)
Was established at the end of the World War 2 to replace the League of Nation and signed on
25/4/1945, before it started functioning on 24/10/1945.
Aims
1. To maintain international peace and security.
2. To develop friendship between nations.
3. To promote social progress and better living standards for people.
4. To promote cultural interaction between member states.
5. To protect the interests of minority and vulnerable groups like women and children.
6. To promote economic development to reconstruct the world economy / To build the
economies of the countries affected by the war.
7. To replace the League Nations which had failed to prevent another World War.
Its principle organs
General Assembly (GA)
1. Security council (S.C.)
2. International Court of Justice(ICJ)
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Trusteeship council (T.C.)
5. Secretariat (S)
1. General Assembly (G.A.)
All member states are represented.
1. It liaises with the Security Council in making recommendations on maintenance of peace &
security.
2. It discusses issues relating to international peace and security.
3. It elects jointly with the Security Council, the judges of the ICJ / Appoints the Secretary
General.
4. It receives / Acts on report from the Security Council and other UN organs.
5. It approves UN budget / Apportions the amount of contribution by each member state.
6. It elects non-member states of Security / Economic / Social fields.
7. It promotes the development of international law.
8. It facilitates the realization of Human Rights / Fundamental freedoms.
9. It promotes higher / better standards of living among nations.
2. Security Council (SC)
It has 15 members 5 permanent (China, France, Russia, UK & US).
Each of the 5 permanent powers have a right to veto a decision, or abstain.
1. It maintains international peace & security.
2. It investigates disputes, which may threaten international peace.
3. It calls upon states to settle their disputes by negotiation.
4. It recommends the procedures to settle disputes / Advise members.
5. It determines situations which may threaten peace and take action.
6. It admits, suspends and expels members from UN.
7. It calls upon members to provide forces against aggressors.
3. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
1. It can apply international conventions to establish rules recognized by the states.
2. International customs may also be applied as law.
3. It may apply general principles of law recognized by nations.
4. It may also apply judicial decisions by nations.
It handles cases of international borders, treatment of diplomatic staff, crime against
humanity etc.
It has 15 judges from different nations elected by the General Assembly and
Security Council.
4. Economic and Social Council (E.S.C.)
It comprises 54 delegates
They meet twice a year
For efficiency, it has set up the following specialized commissions as follows:
1. Statistical commission.
2. Population commission.
3. Commission of status of women in developing countries especially. in the third world
countries.
4. Commission for social development.
5. Commission on Narcotic drugs.
Its functions.
It initiates studies and reports on given matters.
1. It recommends on respect for human rights.
2. It drafts conventions & presents to General Assembly on matters of its areas of operation
(jurisdiction).
3. It convenes international conferences on economic and social matters
4. It co-ordinates activities of specialized commissions and agencies.
5. It co-ordinates the NGO’s with the UN.
5. Trusteeship Council (T.C.)
It has 5 permanent members and 6 non-permanent.
It takes care of the colonial boundaries.
These boundaries / territories include, those placed under the council voluntarily by other
powers, under League Nation and those from axis powers.
6. Secretariat
It deals with administrative day-to-day activities of the United Nation
It is headed by the Secretary-General
-who serves for 5 years and maybe re-elected.
e.g. 1945-1953- Tuygve Lie -Norway 1953-1961- Dag
Hammarkjold-Sweden 1961-1971- U Thant -Burma (Nyanmar)
1972-1982- Kurt Waldhereim -Austria. 1982-1991- Javier Perez
de Cuellar –Peru 1992-1996- Boutros Boutros Ghali- Egypt
1997-2006- Kofi Annan -Ghana
2006-presen, Bann Ki moon
1. It registers treaties.
2. It publishes reports.
3. It conducts research / Survey economic and social trend & problems
4. It administers peace keeping operations and mediate international dispute.
5. It informs the Security Council on any threat of peace.
6. It interprets and translates speeches and documents into UN official languages.
7. It implement laws / policies and decisions by other organs.
8. It administers programmes.
Languages used in their meetings.
1. English
2. French
3. Spanish
4. Chinese
5. Russian
6. Arabic
PERFORMANCE
Achievements of the United Nation
1. Promoted peace and security
Through peace-keeping missions, United Nations observers, sanctions, settling international
disputes and researching on peace and security.
E.g. Congo -1960-1963, Iraq & Iran- 1980-1988 Middle East -1948- 1949, Iraq-Kuwait-1990-
1992
International Court of Justice (ICJ) provides just resolution to international problems
2. Disarmament efforts
Through policies approach, it has helped to reduce eth manufacturer and use of arms. E.g.
Antarctic treaty -1995 in Antarctica, Tlatelolco Treaty -1967-banning nuclear in Latin America
and Caribbean, South Pacific NuclearZone Treaty -1985 forbade testing and damping of
nuclear materials.
3. Human rights agenda
December 1948, universal declaration of human rights was adopted.
1989, Convention on the rights of the child was established.
4. Promoted Rights of women
It has eradicated all forms of discrimination against women and created fora for them to
articulate issues.
5. Has provided humanitarian assistance
-To refugees
-Better housing proposals
-Relief food to hunger stricken areas
6. Promoted democracy and good governance
-It eliminated colonialism and apartheid with dictatorship
8. Has promoted international co-operation in dealing with global issues.
It preserves environment through UNEP
-It educates of dangers of damaging Ozone layer.
9. Has managed to combat terrorism to some extent.
10. Alleviating chronic hunger and rural poverty in developing countries, Credit
through International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
11. It has set standards for sea and air travel.
12. It has improved health through vaccines, education on smallpox, HIV e.t.c.
13. It has encouraged exchange of cultural programmes.
CHALLENGES / PROBLEMS OF U.N.
1. Ideological differences among leaders of different countries
2. Lacks the machinery to enforce its decision / Standing army.
3. Veto power of the big five ; Britain, US, Russia, France and China.
4. Loyalty to other international organizations
5. Nationalism and National interests.
6. Natural disasters / Epidemics, hence place an unexpected strain on the UN resources.
7. Terrorism / International terrorism.
8. Different levels of development.
9. Arms race-accumulation of armaments by powerful countries threatened world
peace.
10. Voting as a block.
11. Occurrences of many conflicts between and within countries.
12. Failure by some members to remit their subscription, hence shortage of funds.
WAYS THROUGH WHICH THE UNITED NATIONS HAS PROMOTED WORLD PEACE
AND SECURITY
1. Dispatching of UN- Peace keeping missions to conflict areas.
2. Sending UN- observers to conflict areas.
3. Sending fact finding missions to conflict area.
4. UN- special envoys and representatives are sent to negotiate or arbitrate for peace
between opposing groups.
5. UN sanctions are imposed that defy the resolutions.
6. The ICJ helps to settle disputes among states.
7. UN peace messengers are sent to encourage and coordinate efforts for the organization.
8. UN uses Non-Governmental (NGOs) to research for the cause and solutions to the conflict.
Ways in which the UN provides humanitarian assistance.
1. It assists refugees / displaced persons with clothes in order to preserve human dignity.
2. It helps in resettling displaced persons by negating for their resettlement in safe
areas.
3. It provides relief food in drought stricken areas in order to avert loss of lives.
4. It provides medical supplies to the victims of war / other calamities so as to restore human
health.
5. It provides shelter to the deserving cases by building houses / giving materials for
construction.
6. It provides education to the vulnerable groups in order to promote literacy.
7. It assists in evacuating people affected by floods to safer ground to avert suffering.
8. It protects refugees by ensuring their respect / observance of basic human rights.
COMMONWEALTH
These are 54 states which were initially part of the British Empire.
It originated in 1839, then 1931, thus the British Commonwealth from the British rule in India.
In 1961, South Africa pulled out when her apartheid policy was condemned. She rejoined in 1994
after eradicating the policy.
Its Categories
1. Britain and her dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
2. African Nations
3. Asian nations
4. Islands from the Caribbean, Pacific and Mediterranean.
The members have no formal agreement.
Aims of Commonwealth.
1. To promote world peace and international understanding
2. To promote development in poorer member states.
3. To promote cooperation between member states.
Principles of Commonwealth
1. To promote peace and security
2. To ensure personal liberty and equality of rights for all citizens with no discrimination.
3. To oppose all forms colonial domination and to be committed to principles of human
dignity and equality.
4. To fight poverty, ignorance and diseases and promote the rise in living standards.
5. To enhance free international trade.
6. To promote co-operation to combat injustices.
7. To promote exchange of knowledge.
8. To form multinational associations based on consultation.
Its characteristics
1. The member states use English as a common language.
2. They appreciate each other’s cultural values.
3. The member states co-operate in education e.g. exchange programmes.
4. The member states recognize Queen Elizabeth as Head of Common wealth.
5. Member states have common military traditions based on British military system.
6. They participate in Commonwealth games.
7. They have economic ties / the rich assist the poor/ technical aid.
Its Organization / structure
1. Heads of state summit
It is made up of presidents or prime ministers
They meet after 2 years
They discuss political and economic problems
2. Ministerial meetings
The ministers of foreign affairs, Finance and defense meet annually.
The ministers for education, health and law meet once after 3 years.
They also frequently visit member countries.
3. Secretariat
It co-ordinates business
It circulates programmes
It organizes the Heads’ meeting.
It encourages projects.
Has 350 members
It is headed by secretary general and 2 assistants.
The 1st assistant deals with international affairs, legal co-operation and information.
The 2nd one deals with economic affairs, export market and food production.
The 1st one (S.G.) was Arnold Smith of Canada.
Specialized agencies
1. Common wealth agricultural bureau
It coordinates agricultural activities.
2. Common Fund for Technical Co-operation
It advises youth programmes
3. Common wealth youth programmes
It involves young people in activities of national interests.
4. Common wealth Science Council
It co-ordinates development of regional programmes e.g. Energy and rural technology
5. Common wealth Regional Health Co-operation Secretariat for East Africa, South
and Central.
It promotes co-operation in medical sector.
6. Common wealth development co-operation
It finances and Trains members
7. Common wealth parliamentary association
The members hold parliamentary meetings for exchange of ideas.
8. Common wealth press union