POS.2008 United Nations in the Modern World
The United Nations was created in the aftermath of the Second World War as an institution to maintain international peace and security, to protect international human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character. This course will explore the role of the United Nations and whether it is meeting these lofty goals. After discussing the creation and structure of the organization, we will look at several distinct areas in which the UN is active, including arms control, sustainable economic development, climate change, international health and disease control, and democratization and electoral assistance. We will also examine the relationship between the UN and other international organizations and players, before considering ideas for reforming the system to make it more effective.