Lecture 3

GLOBAL INTERSTATE SYSTEM

Assoc. Prof. Jose Ricarte B. Origenes
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
• The formal and informal
arrangements that produce
a degree of order and
collective action above the
state in the absence of a
global government that
involve coordination of the
state and non- state actors.
(Young)
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
• encompasses the totality of institutions, policies, norms, procedures
and initiatives through which States and their citizens try to bring
more predictability, stability and order to their responses to
transnational challenges.
• Effective global governance can only be achieved with effective
international cooperation.
• The actions of any State can and often do affect the welfare of other
States. This imposition of mutual externalities and the existence of
global goods provides both the need and justification for global
governance.
 The United Nations
 The United Nations is an International organization founded in 1945 after the
Second World War by 51 countries committed to:
 Maintaining international peace and security
 Developing friendly relations among nations
 Promoting social progress
 Better living standards and
 Human rights.
 Due to its unique international character, the Organization can take action on a
wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States to express
their views.
 As of 2018, there are 195 countries (193 countries that are member states of the
United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy
See and the State of Palestine. )
 The United Nations
 Primary organization for international cooperation, peace and
security.
 The only international organization that can authorize the use of
force against an aggressor.
 UN is a membership directed organization and the members are
all states. This strongly affects what it can do.
 The UN System

•The United Nations System is the whole network

of:
• International organizations
• Treaties and
• Conventions
that were created by the United Nations
 The UN Structure
 The Charter formerly established 6 principal organs of the United
Nations:
1. UN General Assembly
2. UN Security Council
3. UN Economic and Social Council
4. UN Secretariat
5. International Court of Justice
6. Trusteeship Council (suspended operations in 1994)
In addition separate organizations, often subordinate to the
principal organs, have been created to solve specialized tasks.
 UN General Assembly
 Is the only UN organ with universal representation, with all 193
members state represented in the body.
 Decides on essential questions with a simple majority, while
concerns related to peace and security, budgetary matters and
new membership admissions require 2/3 majority.
 GA President and 21 VP
 Can only make recommendations when a dispute is being
discussed by the security council.
 Collective action in times of crises may be coursed through the:
SC, GA and the Office of the SecGen
 UN Security Council
 Most potent organ with the power to make legally binding
resolutions.
 Comprised by the strongest military states and is a concrete
manifestation of the reality of power dynamics
 15 members
 (5) China, France, Great Britain, Russia and the UD
 (10) 2 year terms
 5 (African and Asian states); 1 (Eastern European states), 2 (Latin
American states) and 2 (Western European and other states)
 UN Security Council
Functions:
Investigating any situation that has the potential of
creating international tensions
Call for military action towards an aggressor or threat
Impose economic sanction and other measures
Determine the existence of a breach of peace and
actions to be pursued
 The UN Main Bodies
1. UN General Assembly
Is the main deliberative organ of the UN and is composed of representatives of all Member States
2. UN Security Council
It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
3. UN Economic and Social Council
Is the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related work of the UN and the specialized
agencies and institutions
4. UN Secretariat
It carries out the day-to-day work of the Organization. It services the other principal organs and carries
out tasks as varied as the issues dealt with by the UN: administering peacekeeping operations, surveying
economic and social trends, preparing studies on human rights, among others.
5. International Court of Justice
Is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and gives
advisory opinions to the UN and its specialized agencies. Its Statute is an integral part of the United
Nations Charter.
https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-
depth/global-issues-fast-facts/index.html
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 PHILIPPINES AND THE UN
• Philippines joined 49 other nations in signing the United Nations Charter in October
24, 1945.
• Dr. Carlos Peña Romulo, the former Foreign Secretary and Philippine Ambassador to
the United Nations (from 1946 to 1954) was the first Asian to become president of
the UN General Assembly.
• In consultation with partners and stakeholders, the unique blend of assets which
distinguish the UN System from other multilateral and bilateral development players
include its strengths as: (i) an advocate for the poor and vulnerable, working for the
realization of human rights, MDGs, global norms and standards; (ii) an honest broker
towards inter-sectoral and multi-level consensus and partnerships on sensitive issues
and for humanitarian responses; (iii) an innovator and repository of global best
practices and knowledge on complex development issues; and (iv) an enabler,
supporting capacity development of duty bearers and claimholders.
(https://unicmanila.org/the-un-in-the-region/the-un-in-the-philippines/)