POLITICAL SCIENCE - SHORT NOTES. BLS LLB - SEM IV

POLITICAL SCIENCE - SHORT NOTES. BLS LLB - SEM IV 

Functions Of The Secretary General Of The UN

The Secretary General Of UN, His Power And Functions

The functions of the Secretary General of the UN are as follows –

·         Administrative and Service Functions –

The secretary General is responsible for the organization and direction of the activities of the organization. The staffs of the UN organs excluding ICJ fall under his purview. As such it is his responsibility to ensure that the various organs of the UN and their committees and conference work properly. For this purpose he draws provisional agenda, notifies about the meetings to various members, provides staff and facilities for the holding of meetings, examines the credentials of representatives and submits report to the concerned organs. He also assists in the drafting of documents, resolutions and reports and provides legal and technical advice.

·         Financial Functions –

The Secretary General has been entrusted with important financial functions. Subject to the authority of the General Assembly he prepares the budget of the UN. He allocates funds, controls expenditure, collects the contributions from the members and acts as custodian of all the funds.

·         Representational Functions –

As the Chief representative of the UN, he represents the UN in negotiations with other agencies and government. He also occupies a central position in the working of various organs of the UN because the staff of these organizations and agencies is not only recruited but also controlled by the Secretary General. He also represents UN before the ICJ.

·         Political Functions –

The Secretary General has also been assigned important political functions. Through these political functions he exercise profound influence on the formulation of the policy. It may be observed that this power of the secretary General permits him to submit for the consideration of Security Council any dispute, situation or other matter which is not raised  by a member of the Council.

                                     

Characteristic Of North South System The North-South System As A Subsystem Of The Present International Economic Order North – South System Of Dependence

The second sub-system if the present economic system is North-South system, which is concerned with relationship between the developed market economics and less developed economic countries and less developed economics of countries or Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Unlike the Western system, which is composed of almost equal factors, this system is concerned by complete inequality and disparity. These are vast difference in the per capita average gross national product.  The southern countries are dependent on the North for a number of things.

Firstly, they are greatly dependent upon them for trade because a large percentage of their gross national products come from trade with the North. The dependence of the South and North for trade is an account of their interest market, concentration of exports to a single or a small number of primary products, and vulnerability to the demand conditions of a single market.

Secondly, the countries of South are dependent on North for investments due to lack of adequate resources. In most of the countries of South the foreign investments have made in important sectors of production, raw material production, export industries and dynamic sectors of economy.

Thirdly, the countries of South are also dependent on the North for money. Often the currency of dependent countries of south are linked with the currencies of dominant Northern country which enables the latter to influence the internal as well as the external monetary policy of these countries. The advanced countries influences the domestic and foreign policy of the countries of South by providing them assistance to overcome the balance of payments problems.

Fourthly, aid is also used, as an instrument by the North to manage and manipulate decisions from outside. Aid also contributes to dominance in the field of trade and investments.

Evaluate The Role Of WHO Effectiveness Of WHO In The Contemporary World Discuss The Organization And Function Of WHO

The WHO has the objective of the attainment by all persons of the highest possible level of health. Its activities include advisory services to the nations of the world for development of their health administration and general technical service for promotion of the study of the health problem, establishment of an international pharmacopoeias and publication of health statistics. The organization promotes co-operation among different governments in health matters and exchange of scientific knowledge. On sanitary and quarantine matters, names of diseases, cause of death, standards of diagnosis, of safety, purity and potency of biological and pharmaceutical products that are subjects on the international commerce, on advertising and labeling drugs, the regulations made by the assembly and become automatically binding for all members.

Role Of The NGO’s As A Non State Actors Role Of Non-State Organizations In International

The Non-State actors play an important role in international politics and which greatly influence the course of international politics. These Non-State actors greatly differ with regards to their scope and purpose. Some of the Non-state actors of international politics are –

1.      UNO – the United Nations – has played important role in International Politics. It is a permanent organization with a membership of 184 members. It has worked as fact finder, investigated issues and reported its findings. UNO has acted as mediator and made suggestions for reasonable settlement.

2.      Regional organization – the regional organizations are other important Non-state actors. The Regional organizations usually lack supra-national authority and hence do not enjoy any power over their constituent parts. They also do not posses any unified institutions, practices and attitudes, therefore they can hope to bring about only peaceful changes in the territorial boundaries of the organization.

3.      Multi National Corporation – the multinationals, business firms engaged in production and marketing activities beyond the borders of one state are important non-state actors of international politics. Multinational corporations (MNC’s) possess a very tightly integrated  production and marketing system and pursue policies. Which aim at enhancing the economic position of the firm. The number of MNC’s has greatly increased in recent years. The yearly value of MNC’s come in conflicts with states and the host states can refuse permission to new MNC’s to established themselves and nationalize those already operating in the country, but generally these states are reluctant to do so because of beneficial effect of MNC’s

4.      National Liberation Organization – National Liberation Organization are the other important Non-state unit of International Politics. A number of such organizations have been formed in different part of the world such as Viet Cong, Irish Republican Army, PLO and many more. These organizations differ in size, structure, Strength and Ideology. A notable feature of these organization is that they do not possess any legal authority over a specific territory and merely seek to liberate that territory from current regime. The members are moved by shared perceptions of the past common hopes for future. These organizations make use of military policy instruments for the attainment of their objectives.

Veto Power Of The 5p’s Of The UNSC What Is Veto Power.

If any person or body corporate has over riding power to stall or make a resolution fall through even if majority is in its favour such a power or right is called Veto power. The five permanent members of the UNO have these powers. In time of crises when the other members of this club ganged up against India in Kashmir issue Russia came to India’s rescue by using this power. The United Nation Security Council ‘Power of Veto’ refers to the veto power wielded solely by the five permanent members of the United Nation Security Council, enabling them to prevent the adoption of any ‘substantive’ draft council resolution, regardless of the level of International support for the draft. The veto does not apply to procedural votes, which is significant in that the Security Council’s permanent membership can vote against a ‘procedural’ draft resolution, without necessarily blocking its adoption by the Council. The veto is exercised when any permanent member, the so called ‘P5’ cast negative votes on a substantive draft resolution. The veto is based on the principle of great power unity. But it continued to reflect the disagreement among the permanent members.

Negotiation As A Method Of Settlement Of Dispute. Discuss The Diplomatic Method Of Settlement Of Dispute – Negotiation. Negotiation As A Method Of Settlement Of Dispute.

Negotiation – Negotiation is the simplest method of pacific settlement of disputes. Negotiation are carried on either by the heads of the state or by their exchange of correspondence. India – Pakistan negotiation at Simla is a good example of negotiations. You may negotiate directly with the other person. You may hire an attorney to negotiate directly with the other side on your behalf. There are no specific procedures to follow - you can determine your own - but it works best if all parties agree to remain calm and not talk at the same time. Depending on your situation, you can negotiate in the board room of a big company, in an office or even in your own living room.

Negotiation allows you to participate directly in decisions that affect you. In the most successful negotiations, the needs of both parties are considered. A negotiated agreement can become a contract and be enforceable.

Arbitration As A Method Of Settlement Of Disputes Discuss The Diplomatic Method Of Settlement Of Dispute - Arbitration What Is The Pattern Of Direct Opposition?

Arbitration – Arbitration is a sort of Semi Judicial method of settling a dispute. Arbitration is a very important method of settling International dispute by peaceful means. The parties to a dispute refer their case to an individual or small group of individual for arbitration. Its value resists its equal-judicial character. It signifies the reference of the dispute to an individual or small group of individual to whom the parties state their respective cases and whose decision they are bound to obey, unless they can show that the arbitrator exceeded his authority. The procedure of international arbitration is the same as in municipal law. But it is possible that several disputes involving purely legal issues are referred to Arbitrator may take his award according to justice or equality or ex acquo et bono, or he might be specially directed to apply the rules of international law.

What Are The Causes Of The Failure Of The League Of Nations ? Causes Of Failure Of League Of Nation

Some of the important causes responsible for its failure were as under –

a)      Domination of Big Powers – as the time passed it became clear that the world body is being dominated by such big powers as Britain and France. It was also clear that they could not so anything they liked. The result was that small nations which formed a majority of league membership lost faith in the organization. These being to feel that the League absolutely incompetent to save them from aggression by any big power.

b)      Desire to preserve national interest – Though the member states had pledged themselves to maintain international peace and resolve their differences by peaceful means, yet in actual practice all the big states cared more to preserve their narrow national interests rather than preserving the world organization.

c)      Lack of Mutual Cooperation – The Members of League had no identity of views. They lacked mutual cooperation which is always essential for the success of an organization.

d)      Structural defects – One of the important cause responsible for the failure of the League of Nations was that its structure had some inherent defects. The Covenants of the League provided that under certain conditions the states could resort to defensive war, but as all know it is very difficult to make a distinction between an offensive and a defensive war. Thus from the beginning the League felt that the need for war would arise and their psychology and provision proved very dangerous for the world.

e)      Imbalanced Objectives – The League of Nations had Four main objectives before it. These were – a) reduction if armaments, b) guarantee against aggression, c) settlement of Disputes and d) bringing peace by negotiated means.

What Are The Type Of Balance Of Power Types Of Balance Of Power

1.      Simple or Complex balance of power –

If the balance of power aims at the preservation of safety of the nationalities of the world, it is known as simple balance of power. On the other hand, the balance of power is complex, if it concentrates on the preservation of peace due to warning position of the two militant nations. The two types of balance of power can run concurrently among the various nations of the world.

2.      Local, Regional or Worldwide balance of power –

Balance of Power can be Local, Regional or Worldwide; depending upon the area of its operation. If the balance of power seeks to checkmate only one power or state, which poses a threat to the freedom of other neighboring states, it is regarded as local. If it is aimed at maintaining balance in particular geographical or political region. The balance of power is regarded worldwide if it concerns more than region.

3.      Rigid or flexible balance of power –

A balance of power is regarded as rigid if two groups of states take a particular stand and are not willing to deviate from that stand. The rigid stand taken by USA and USSR as leader of the two groups which emerged after Second World War is an example of such type of balance of power. On the other hand, if the member states change their alignment and seek fresh alliance due to changed circumstances, the balance of power is regarded as flexible.

What Is Composition Of ICJ Discuss The ICJ With Reference To Its Composition And Function

Composition of the court – The international court of justice (ICJ) is governed by Article 92 and 96 of the UN charter and the statue of (ICJ) which is the integral part of the UN charter. All the members of the UN are automatically parties of the statue. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.

Functions of international court of justice – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the primary judicial branch of the United Nations. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international branches, agencies, and the UN General Assembly. The court hears only those cases where the parties to the dispute are those sovereign  state who have accepted the statue of the court. There is no provision for automatic reference of the case or dispute to the court. However, the charter only says that as a matter of general rule the member states should refer their legal dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) (Article 36). But this does not apply that the parties cannot resort to any other judicial procedure.

What Is The Pattern Of Direct Opposition? Pattern Of Balance Of Power Pattern Of Balance Of Power

Professor Morgenthau mentions in his book ‘Politics among Nations’ two main patterns of the Balance of Power – the pattern of direct opposition and the pattern of competition. The pattern is one of direct opposition when there are two nation confronted with each other. One nation wants to establish its power over another while other refuse to yield. On the other hand, the pattern of competition exists while one or other nation tries to establish its domination over third power and neither of the two powers allows each other to disturb the status quo. The competition between United State and China for control of the countries of South – East offers as examples of this pattern, in the pattern of direct opposition the balance of power results directly from the desire of either nation to see its policies prevail over the policies of other. Both the nations try to increase their respective powers to make attempt to control the decisions of the other or to resist the presence of the other. This balancing of opposing forces goes on until the concerned nations change their objectives of imperialistic policies or until one – nation gains a decisive advantage over other.

Purpose Of Creating UNICEF UNICEF – Organization, Objectives And Functions

The United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was created by the General Assembly in 1946 in order to meet the emergency need of children in Europe and China immediately after the Second World War for Food, Drugs and Clothing. The General Assembly then in 1950 shifted the emphasis of UNICEF’s objective to programme of long – range benefit for children of developing countries. Sometimes later through its name was changed to United Nation Children Fund, its acronym UNICEF was retained. Children are the worst victim of Hunger, Disease and Want. Millions of them die every year as a result of Malnutrition, Famines, Disease and Natural disasters. UNICEF plays an important role by protecting children from adversity and by preparing them for life. The main objective of the UNICEF is derived from the aspiration of the U.N Charter, “to save succeeding generation from the scourge of war and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

The UNICEF renders assistance in providing balanced food to children and provides assistance in providing to them protective food like Milk, Wheat, Fish, Fats, Fish Liver, Oil etc. it also co-operated with other organizations for the improvement of children’s health and provision of clothing. UNICEF also takes of the interests of women and provides facilities for pregnant mothers. It also extended support to various conventions for the suppression of traffic in women and children, crime prevention etc.

The Secretary General The Secretary General  of UN – His Power And Functions

The functions and powers of the General Secretary of UN are –

Administrative and Service functions – the Secretary General is responsible for the organization and direction of the activities of the organization. The staffs of all the UN organs excluding ICJ fall under his purview. As such it is his responsibility to ensure that the various organs of the UN and their committees and conference work properly. He also assists in the drafting of documents, resolutions and reports and provides legal and technical advice.

Financial Functions – The Secretary General has been entrusted with important financial functions. Subject to the authority of the General Assembly he prepares the budget of the UN. He allocates funds, controls expenditure, collects the contributions from the members and acts as custodian of all the funds. 

Representational Functions – As the chief representative of the UN, he represents the UN in negotiations with other agencies and government. He also occupies a central position in the working of various organs of the UN because the staff of these organizations and agencies is not only recruited but also controlled by the Secretary General. He also presents UN before the ICJ.

Political Functions – The Secretary General has also been assigned important political functions. Through these political functions he exercises profound influence on the formulation of the policy. It may be observed that this power of the Secretary General permits him to submit for the consideration of Security Council any dispute, situation or other matter which is not raised by a member of the Council.

Discuss The Relation Of The Security Council And The General Assembly Discuss The Relation Of The Security Council And The General Assembly

The UN Charter has entrusted the responsibility for the maintenance of International peace and security to the Security Council, even though it is required to submit annual reports to the General Assembly with regard to the measures taken by it for the purpose. However, the General Assembly cannot pass any judgments on the actions taken by the Security Council. Hence in no way the Security Council is subject to overriding authority of the General Assembly. The size of Security Council gives it an advantage over the General Assembly which is an unwieldy body and meets only for three or four months towards the close of the year, while the Security Council is well organized and functions continuously. The Security Council has the same functions as the General Assembly has with respect to Trusteeship territories are strategic areas. The General Assembly and the Security Council participate separately in the election of the Judges of the ICJ. The General Assembly appoints the secretary general of the secretariat on the recommendation of the Security Council.

Difference between Arbitration and Judicial settlement.

Arbitration and Judicial settlement are similar and yet differ. In both the decision is reached by the application of the law to the facts determined after giving the parties an impartial hearing. In arbitration, the third party decision maker is chosen on ad hoc basis by the parties by mutual consent. The law which the arbitrators apply is the general law, but the parties may ask the arbitral tribunal to decide in accordance with the law as both of them have understood or have agreed to. In judicial settlement, the parties go to an established Court, and they have no choice regarding the composition of the Court that adjudicates, or the law to be applied. The Court applies the law that is authorized by its constitution, which is generally international law.

In case of arbitration, the parties enter into an agreement to submit to arbitration, usually called compromise. In case of judicial settlement, the jurisdiction of the Court arises from the consent given by the parties with respect to the particular dispute, or a general consent given earlier with respect to a specified category of cases.

Bi-polarity –

In the first instance the bi-polar power system which emerged in the post – World War II gave a serious setback to the system of balance of power. In the post-world war II period Britain’s power greatly declined and she could no more play the role of a balancer, which she had played for such a long time. Instead two superpowers – USA and USSR emerged with most of the lesser powers rallying around them. As both these powers were actively involved in the policies of cold war they could not play the role of a balancer. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, United States has emerged as the main power and the Bi-polar power system has undergone transformation. Though some has contended that this has resulted in Unipolar system United States acting as the sole arbitrator in international arena, in actual practice United States cannot by itself mould the international events as it likes and it has to secure widespread international support.