E-Mail Exchanges with Sir Brian Urquhart (2000): Power and Resources

E-Mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart (2000): Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

E-Mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart, former Undersecretary General of the UN, with students at Marin Academy High School, 5/31/00

Where do you feel the UN goes too far in terms of overstepping its bounds?

Taj

I don't really think that the UN oversteps its bounds enough, but what does happen is that the UN is committed to intervene in violent situations but not given either the authority or resources to act effectively. This was disastrously true in Bosnia, in Angola, and now in Sierra Leone. The question for governments is whether they are prepared to give the UN the means to act, especially in humanitarian situations, or whether they will have the strength of mind to say no action is possible.

In what areas does the UN need more power to be more successful?

Taj

I have always thought that the United Nations must have its own rapid reaction force so that it can intervene before situations get completely out of hand. Governments are obviously not prepared to provide the kind of highly trained forces which are essential in such situations, and, that being the case, I feel they must finally agree to a small highly trained UN rapid reaction force.

In general, what is your view on the present effectiveness of the UN in terms of bringing nations' interests together and the implementing resolutions?

Chase

I think the UN has been far more important than is often appreciated in the solution or mitigation of major historical problems. For example, the UN was the catalyst for the entire movement toward de-colonization after World War II, which incidentally has meant that the membership is nearly four times its original size. I think the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the subsequent conventions on different aspects of human rights and the particularly the rights of women is probably one of the single most important historical developments of the whole twentieth century. The whole process of developing international law in virtually every sphere of human activity from the depths of the oceans to outer space is an ongoing work of enormous importance for the future.

In terms of power distribution in the UN, do you believe that certain countries should have a bigger role when making the final call where opinions are split evenly? And if so, what aspects of a country should be used to determine the status of their power within the UN?

Sophie and Talia

Of course, five countries -- the five permanent members of the Security Council -- do have a bigger role in political crises and also have the veto. They also are required to pay higher contributions for peacekeeping. All of the 189 members have an equal vote in the General Assembly, but obviously their influence is determined to some extent by their political, economic, and military power. That does not stop very small countries from making important contributions. Malta, for example, first suggested the Law of the Sea Treaty, probably the most important piece of international legislation ever produced.