The UN, International Organizations, & Nationalism
Key Question: How has the United Nations affected nationalism?
The United Nations is not universally applauded for its internationalist efforts. The failure to stop the violence in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, as well as the changing world conditions, has led some people to question the effectiveness of the UN. They say that the UN's approach must be re-evaluated. In 2003, Kofi Annan, who was secretary-general at the time, said that the UN must adapt to changes in the world.
"We have come to a fork in the road. This may be a moment no less decisive than 1945 itself, when the United Nations was founded. At the time, a group of far-sighted leaders, led and inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, were determined to make the second half of the 20th century different from the first half. They saw that the human race had only one world to live in, and that unless it managed its affairs prudently, all human beings may perish. So they drew up rules to govern international behaviour, and founded a network of institutions, with the United Nations at its centre, in which the peoples of the world could work together for the common good. Now we must decide whether it is possible to continue on the basis agreed then, or whether radical changes are needed."
The United Nations has a responsibility to protect people when their own countries cannot. This protection can take various forms, including humanitarian aid, diplomatic missions, and - as a last resort - military force.
"We have come to a fork in the road. This may be a moment no less decisive than 1945 itself, when the United Nations was founded. At the time, a group of far-sighted leaders, led and inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, were determined to make the second half of the 20th century different from the first half. They saw that the human race had only one world to live in, and that unless it managed its affairs prudently, all human beings may perish. So they drew up rules to govern international behaviour, and founded a network of institutions, with the United Nations at its centre, in which the peoples of the world could work together for the common good. Now we must decide whether it is possible to continue on the basis agreed then, or whether radical changes are needed."
The United Nations has a responsibility to protect people when their own countries cannot. This protection can take various forms, including humanitarian aid, diplomatic missions, and - as a last resort - military force.
UN Challenges
Iran Challenges
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Protecting Common Human Heritage
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Canadian World Heritage Sites include:
Threats to the Common Human Heritage
UNESCO must work hard to safeguard the common human heritage. But sovereign nation-states control what goes on within their borders. They may dam rivers and flood heritage sites. They may build roads and housing developments over archaeological sites. Sometimes, they may choose to ignore or even destroy their cultural or natural heritage.
In 2001, for example, the Taliban government still controlled Afghanistan. Taliban rulers destroyed two ancient statues of the Buddha, a revered religious leader. These statues were the largest standing Buddhas in the World. The Taliban believed that destroying these statues was in their national interest because the statues insulted their religion.
Balancing the need to preserve the common human heritage against the national interest of a particular country is a challenge that UNESCO continues to struggle with.
In 2001, for example, the Taliban government still controlled Afghanistan. Taliban rulers destroyed two ancient statues of the Buddha, a revered religious leader. These statues were the largest standing Buddhas in the World. The Taliban believed that destroying these statues was in their national interest because the statues insulted their religion.
Balancing the need to preserve the common human heritage against the national interest of a particular country is a challenge that UNESCO continues to struggle with.
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