The United Nations at 80: A Giant on the Path to Decline?
The Birth of the UN The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945, immediately after the devastation of the Second World War. Its founding vision was clear: to prevent another global conflict, to safeguard international peace and security and to foster cooperation among nations. The architects of the UN chiefly the victorious Allied powers designed a global system rooted in collective security, universal principles and legally binding frameworks. At the heart of this architecture stood the UN Security Council, with five permanent members (United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France). Each was granted a veto power, intended to ensure balance and prevent unilateral dominance. But history has shown that the veto became a double-edged sword often a shield for allies, a weapon of paralysis and a tool that undermined collective decision-making. Achievements of the United Nations Despite its flaws, the UN has made notable contributions over the decades: Decolonization ...