The history of international relations, which is dominated by competition of states, was impressed by the overcoming of this structure. There were several philosophers like Niccolò Machiavelli, Immanuel Kant and Jürgen Habermas who were engaged in answering the basic question about how states could cooperate and how they could solve their conflicts.1 International organizations (IOs) are one response to the growing tension in world society between the process of integration and the desire for separation. The Industrial Revolution, the creation and integration of the world economy and at the same time the movement of ideas and people, as well as that of goods and services were the basics for the idea of globalisation. There was also a growth of nationalism, particularly strong in eighteenth- and nineteenthcentury Europe. Subjects became citizens, and there was a tendency to a sharper demarcation of identities based on language, religion and ethnicity. The growth of IOs is a reflection of the spirit of the times of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The United Nations Organization is the second try to order the international system and to minimise the “perils of anarchy.”2 It’s the second try to trust in an organization for securing the “peace of the world” by the people of the world, after the League of Nations. After the Second World War, the demand of governance in world affairs was growing. The UN are a product of rising interdependencies among the states in the international system.
IOs are the operative objects in this essay. In the first part of this essay, I will provide some basic historical information, which gives a better understanding of the circumstances of the evolution of the United Nations System. After a definition of IOs, I will analyse the United Nations System, its function as an IO, by giving examples of the history of the UN. In this essay I will sketch, firstly, why IOs will be created. Secondly, I want to investigate if IOs matter. Thirdly, I will subject to closer scrutiny how the action of IOs do differ between the different issue areas. By answering these questions, I will deal with the theories on the current scientific debate. Coming from these theories, I will develop hypotheses and apply them to some cases exemplary for the most important historical periods.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Predecessors and the history of the UN-System
a) The Hague Peace Conferences
b) The League of Nations
c) The genesis of the United Nations
a) The United Nations during the cold war (1945 – 1954)
b) The period between 1955 and 1963
c) The third part between 1964 and 1973
d) The fourth decade from 1974 – 1986
e) The Time of Change 1987
d) The differences between the LN’s and the UN
III. Theories of International Organizations
1.) Definition of IOs
2.) Schools of thought and its basic assumptions
a) Neo Realism
b) Neo-institutionalism
c) Game theory
ca) Stag Hunt
cb) Battle of Sexes
cc) Prisoner’s Dilemma
d) Social Constructivism
3) Role and function of IOs
a) Role of IOs
aa) Instrument
ab) Arena
ac) Actor
b) Function of IOs
ba) Articulation and aggregation
bb) Norms
bc) Recruitment
bd) Socialization
be) Rule making
bf) Rule application
bg) Rule adjudication
bh) Information
bi) Operations
IV. Case studies on choosen examples
1) The Korean War
a) Neo Realism
aa) hypothesis
ab) result
2) Racial discrimination
a) Social Constructivism
aa) hypothesis
ab) result
3) The former Yugoslavia
a) Neo-Institutionalism
aa) hypothesis
ab) result
V. Conclusion
VI. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper explores the evolution of the United Nations system and examines its functional roles through the lens of established international relations theories. It addresses the fundamental questions of why international organizations are created, whether they significantly influence global politics, and how their actions vary across distinct issue areas by analyzing historical periods and specific case studies.
- Historical development of the UN system and its precursors like the League of Nations.
- Theoretical analysis using Neo-Realism, Neo-Institutionalism, and Social Constructivism.
- Evaluation of the functional roles and operational mechanisms of international organizations.
- Comparative case study assessment of the Korean War, racial discrimination, and the crisis in former Yugoslavia.
Excerpt from the Book
3) The genesis of the United Nations
The term “United Nations” was created by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who first used this term in his correspondence with the English Prime Minister Winston Churchill. By this term, he referred to the 26 states of the Washington-pact of 10th January 1942. This pact was an obligation for those countries allied with the axis of the Second World War not to close separate armistices. With their agreement, they also ratified the Atlantic-Charter. This Charter contained the basics of a new system of the world after the Second World War. This system of an enduring and extensive system of security was a development from the declaration of the “4 freedoms” and contained the renunciation of territorial gains and respect for the right of self-determination of the people. It was clear for the wartime allied leaders that they would not create a new collective security system on the old LNs’ structure. On this basis, a growing cooperation developed, as shown for instance during several international conferences, such as the conference of Casablanca in 1943 and the allied foreign ministers’ meeting in Moscow from the 19th – 30th October, 1943. By the end of this conference, the USA, the UdSSR, GB and China agreed on the general outline of a charter centred on maintaining peace and security through an international organization.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of international relations and defines the research scope regarding the evolution and theoretical analysis of international organizations.
II. Predecessors and the history of the UN-System: Reviews the historical development from the Hague Peace Conferences and the League of Nations through the five decades of the United Nations.
III. Theories of International Organizations: Explains the conceptual framework by defining IOs and detailing the core assumptions of Neo-Realism, Neo-Institutionalism, and Social Constructivism.
IV. Case studies on choosen examples: Applies theoretical perspectives to evaluate the UN's role during the Korean War, racial discrimination issues, and the crisis in former Yugoslavia.
V. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming how different international relations theories provide valid analytical instruments for specific historical developments.
VI. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and reference materials utilized throughout the research.
Keywords
United Nations, International Organizations, Neo-Realism, Neo-Institutionalism, Social Constructivism, Collective Security, League of Nations, International Relations Theory, Diplomacy, Global Governance, North-South Conflict, State Sovereignty, Power Politics, Cooperation, Case Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The paper examines the historical evolution of the United Nations system and evaluates its functional impact within the international political arena through various theoretical perspectives.
Which theoretical frameworks are applied?
The author utilizes Neo-Realism, Neo-Institutionalism, and Social Constructivism to explain why international organizations exist and how they function.
What is the central research question?
The work seeks to answer why international organizations are formed, whether they matter in international affairs, and how their actions differ based on specific issue areas.
What methodology does the author employ?
The study combines a historical analysis of the UN's development with a theoretical investigation, followed by empirical application through case studies of specific historical periods.
What is the core content of the theoretical section?
It provides definitions of social institutions and international organizations, followed by an analysis of the basic assumptions of the selected international relations schools of thought.
How are international organizations characterized in this paper?
They are described as social institutions that can function as instruments for states, arenas for diplomatic discussion, or independent actors capable of influencing global structures.
How does the author apply Neo-Realism to the Korean War?
The author argues that the Korean War represents a prisoner's dilemma scenario where conflicting interests between the USA and the Soviet Union led to a deadlock in the Security Council, demonstrating that IOs are often instrumentalized for power politics.
Why is the concept of norms central to the Social Constructivist analysis of racial discrimination?
The author demonstrates that when key international actors agree on a specific norm—such as the rejection of racial discrimination—they cooperate to sanction other actors who violate that norm, thereby showing the constructive impact of shared values.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Matthias Mißler (Autor:in), 2003, The Evolution of the UN System and IO-Theory, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/17139
