Does the World Need the United Nations? Analyzing the Organization’s Roles, Bodies and Effectiveness

Abstract

This paper examines the essential question: “Does the world need the United Nations?” amidst increasing scrutiny regarding its effectiveness, cost, and alignment with member state interests, notably exemplified by US policy shifts under the Trump administration. Despite these criticisms and acknowledged limitations, the essay argues that the UN remains indispensable for global order. The analysis evaluates the effectiveness of the UN by focusing on its principal roles and key bodies. It explores how the General Assembly (UNGA) fosters international cooperation, reducing transaction costs for diplomacy and facilitating agreements like the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, while addressing critiques of its non-binding resolutions. It examines the Security Council’s (UNSC) critical function in maintaining international peace and security through tools like peacekeeping and sanctions, using the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict as a case study and considering the controversy surrounding the veto power. Further, it assesses the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) role in promoting international law by interpreting treaties and settling state disputes, highlighted by the Whaling in the Antarctic case, while contextualizing procedural delays within the constraints of state sovereignty. The paper concludes that the UN’s weaknesses often stem from the inherent challenges of international relations in an anarchic system rather than fatal institutional flaws, affirming its necessary role and emphasizing the importance of continued member state commitment and funding for preventing conflict and promoting global governance.