UNGGD/Assessmentcomponenttwo
The major essay is worth 40% of the final grade. Choose one option from the list below. The essay should be 2000 words.
1. Article I of the UN Charter defines one of its main purposes as ‘to maintain international peace and security’. Do you think the United Nations has been successful in this endeavor? Why or why not?
2. In Module Three, we heard a lecture by Professor Goldin, author of Why Global Governance is Failing’. Do you think global governance is failing? Why or why not?
3. Germany, Brazil, Japan and India have each been discussed as potential additional permanent members of the UN Security Council. Do you think any or all of these countries should be accepted as new permanent members? Justify your position.
4. Imagine your nation, Pretendistan, is considering a campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Prepare a report for your government that considers the actions required to maximise chances of a successful campaign, the likely benefits of a successful bid, and the costs and possible negative impacts. Make a recommendation as to whether the bid should proceed. (For the purposes of this essay you may assign Pretendistan some relevant characteristics of your choosing, as long as they are broadly feasible. Eg. Pretendistan may be a member of the G20, or a sub-Saharan African country, or a close ally of Russia …).
5. You have just been appointed as the next UN Secretary-General. Prepare your inaugural speech. In this speech you should reflect on the accomplishments of the UN (and particularly the Secretariat), consider areas in which the UN and Secretariat could do better, and outline a vision for the future.
6. Article I of the UN Charter defines one of its key purposes as ‘to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic … character’. How successful do you think the UN has been in this undertaking?
7. You are an intern at Genocide Prevention International (GPI). GPI is about to commence a campaign for stronger UN responses to genocide, and will be publishing a major report to launch the campaign. You have been asked to write the background section of the report. Prepare this section, in which you must explore the history of UN responses to genocide, including at least two instances in which there were shortcomings in this response.
8. How can diplomacy help prevent conflicts?
9. ‘The UN embodies universality and the G20 efficacy … effective global governance depends, to a large extent, on the success of both the G20 and the UN.’(Heinbecker, ‘The Future of the G20 and its Place in Global Governance, p. 13). Do you agree or disagree with Heinbecker’s contention? Justify your response.
10. Do you think UN Security Council reform is likely in the foreseeable future? Why or why not?
