International Organisations (UN and its agencies)
What the domain tests
This domain tests the UN's structure, its principal organs, peacekeeping, specialised agencies and reform debates, especially Security Council expansion and India's claim.
Core rules and concepts
- The UN was founded in 1945 at San Francisco with 51 members; it now has 193.
- Principal organs include the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat and Trusteeship Council.
- The Security Council has five permanent members with veto power and ten elected members; its resolutions can be binding under Chapter VII.
- The General Assembly has one state-one vote but its resolutions are generally recommendations, not legislation.
- The ICJ hears disputes between states, not individuals.
- Specialised agencies include WHO, UNESCO, ILO, FAO and UNICEF; the IMF and World Bank are Bretton Woods institutions linked to the UN system; the WTO is not a UN agency.
- Reform debates focus on SC membership, the veto, regional representation and transparency; India, Brazil, Germany and Japan seek permanent seats.
Worked example
Why does the veto frustrate UN action? Reasoning: a permanent member can block a substantive SC resolution even with majority support; this protects great-power interests but can paralyse action in Syria or Ukraine; reform proposals seek veto restraint or expansion.
Traps that cost marks
- Calling the General Assembly a world parliament.
- Assuming all UN resolutions are binding; only some SC resolutions are.
- Confusing the ICJ with the International Criminal Court.
- Describing the WTO as a UN specialised agency.