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UN Security Council is powerless to help Ukraine – but it’s working as designed to prevent World War III

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Summary

In this article, Thomas G. Weiss, a veteran scholar with expertise in the politics of the United Nations, discusses the historic role of the UN Security Council and its failure to stop the carnage in Ukraine. He explains that the U.N. Charter was designed to eliminate the illegal use of force, backed up with the threat of military action, but that this has been violated numerous times. He also explains that the Security Council's five-member veto power prevents them from taking action against major nuclear powers, such as Russia. Despite the current situation in Ukraine, Weiss argues that the U.N. still serves an important role in international affairs and should not be written off.

Q&As

What did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say to the UN Security Council in April 2022?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the UN Security Council in April 2022 if they were ready to close the UN and if they thought the time of international law was gone.

What was the purpose of the UN Charter and how did Russia violate it?
The purpose of the UN Charter was to eliminate the illegal use of force and only permit it in self-defense or when the Security Council authorized it. Russia violated this by attempting to swallow up a smaller country next door.

What was the original intention of the Security Council and what was the purpose of the five-member veto power?
The original intention of the Security Council was to have an automatic response to aggression, with the condition that the five permanent members would agree. The five-member veto power was included to ensure that the US and Soviet Union would join the UN.

What effects has the lack of action by the Security Council had on the UN's public status?
The lack of action by the Security Council has diminished the UN's status with the public.

What benefits has the UN provided, even despite its shortcomings?
The UN has provided benefits such as shuttle diplomacy during the Cuban Missile Crisis, deployment of peacekeepers on the Golan Heights, getting rid of smallpox, and working to get rid of guinea worm and malaria.

AI Comments

👍 The author of this article clearly explains the purpose of the UN Security Council and how it has prevented World War III. The UN is an important organization that has done a lot of good in the world and it is important to recognize its successes.

👎 This article fails to address how the UN Security Council's five-member veto power has allowed individual countries to exercise too much power and prevent the organization from achieving its goals. This disempowerment has been a major issue for the UN and the article does not provide any solutions for it.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the UN Security Council and its inability to help Ukraine. It talks about the implications of its failure and the role it's supposed to have.

Friend: That's really interesting. So what are the implications of the article?

Me: Essentially, it points out that the UN Security Council is powerless to help Ukraine, but it's working as designed to prevent World War III. It also explains that the five-member veto power actually was put in place to prevent World War III from happening. The article also mentions that the UN's inaction is a black eye for the UN and that one country's actions can violate the UN charter, which has happened numerous times. However, the article also points out that despite the UN's shortcomings, it has still done a lot of good and helped in many areas.

Action items

Research the Kellogg-Briand Pact and the UN Charter to understand the legal framework of the UN Security Council.
Follow the news on the situation in Ukraine and the UN Security Council's response.
Write to your local representatives to express your opinion on the UN Security Council's inaction in Ukraine.

Technical terms

UN Security Council: The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to its United Nations Charter.
Veto: A veto is the power to unilaterally stop an official action, especially the enactment of legislation.
Use of Force: The use of force is the application of physical force against another person, group, or nation, whether in defense, retaliation, or otherwise.
UN Charter: The United Nations Charter is the foundational treaty of the United Nations, setting out the rights and responsibilities of the organization and its member states.
Kellogg-Briand Pact: The Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris, was an international agreement signed in 1928 that sought to outlaw war as an instrument of national policy.
Self-Defense: Self-defense is the legal right of a person to protect themselves or others from physical harm.
Ukraine Invasion 2022: The Ukraine invasion of 2022 was a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in April 2022.