United Nations

Formed in 1945, the United Nations remains the largest and most important international organization in the world, providing a vital forum for dialogue among virtually all nations. Developed to promote peace and avoid conflict, UN programs help pool global resources to confront challenges such as poverty, health, climate change, and migration, while also providing peacekeepers to conflict zones. Both developed and developing countries have also pushed for reform of the organization to account for the dramatic changes in economic and political power around the world.

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New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2009

UN and OSCE Monitors Leaving Georgia

By James Joyner

Monitors from the UN and the OSCE are leaving Georgia after Russia vetoed an extension of both mandates. This leaves only a tiny EU force and all but formally ends the West’s pretense that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will be reunited with Georgia, much less that Europe will do anything to make that happen.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2009

The Menace of Piracy: India, the International Community and a UN Response

By Arun Prakash

Although any government can claim jurisdiction to a crime committed on the high seas, regardless of the nationality of culprit, the international response to piracy has been largely confused and ineffective.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2009

UN: United States Must Prosecute Torture Lawyers

By James Joyner

The United States is required to prosecute lawyers who authored memos approving harsh interrogation techniques in possible violation of international law, the UN’s top anti-torture official proclaimed Friday.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2009

UN Conference on Racism: Another Wasted Opportunity

By Valerie Nichols

Monday’s opening of the UN Conference on Racism met low expectations, fueling criticism that it was simply a rerun of the notorious Durban Conference in 2001.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2009

G20 Solves Financial Crisis and More!

By James Joyner

Tufts University political economist Dan Drezner passes on news of what he terms “The Miracle of London.” Your humble blogger has learned that, in an amazing reversal of fortune, the leaders of the G-20 have heeded President Obama’s call to embrace a “responsiblity to co-ordinate our action and find our common ground.” 

Economy & Business International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2009

EU Hands Chad Mission to UN

By James Joyner

The European Union has handed over command of the peacekeeping mission in Chad to the United Nations. 

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2009

Former Serb President Cleared of Kosovo Crimes

By James Joyner

The international community has once again struck out in its attempts to find a senior Serbian leader criminally liable for attrocities in the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jan 17, 2009

Turkey: Bar Israel from UN

By James Joyner

In perhaps the strongest sign yet of Europe turning away from Israel, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for her suspension from the UN. Israel should be barred from the United Nations while it ignores the organization’s calls to stop fighting in Gaza, Turkey’s prime minister said Friday, urging the world not to turn a […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jan 15, 2009

Israel Shells UN Headquarters in Gaza

By James Joyner

Breaking news from AP: Israeli forces shelled the United Nations headquarters in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, setting fire to the compound filled with hundreds of refugees as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon was in the region on a mission to end Israel’s devastating offensive against the territory’s Hamas rulers.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2008

Global Governance Deficit

By Robert Manning

Once again, a crisis is brewing in Somalia, this time compounded by the global impact of piracy around its waters. And once again, it illustrates several dimensions of the global governance deficit arising from the challenge of weak and failing states, still, all too often, largely unmet.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

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