Despite the efforts of the United Nations’ largest active peacekeeping force, several peace agreements among the belligerents, and a temporary six-month ban on mining earlier this year, conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) persists after nearly 15 years. It has been—and continues to be—a destructive conflict. More than 5.4 million perished in the region between 1998 and 2003, and an estimated 45,000 continue to die monthly due to malnutrition, disease, and violence.
UN Origins Project Series, Part 4: In WWII, It Took Teamwork to Defeat Not Only Germany, But Japan
The Philippines, Australia, and even China helped the United States defeat imperial Japan in World War II.
Revisiting the Atlantic Charter
The world once again teeters on the brink of catastrophe, just as it did in the middle of the 20thcentury. Today, we face much more subtle threats – such as economic instability, climate change, weapons proliferation, and food shortages — than simply an axis of World War II adversaries. However, as with Hitler a half century ago, these issues constitute a tremendous threat to international security and world stability. They require the United States to once again broaden the purview of its foreign and military policy objectives and engage with its international partners to seek solutions.
UN Origins Project Series, Part 3: The Author’s First Foray Into the UN Archives
The United Nations Information Organization served stark warnings to the Axis powers that their crimes would not go unpunished and it helped galvanize the American people into action as the defenders of liberty.
UN Origins Project Series, Part 2: The Importance of Information in Wartime
Wartime information galvanized support at home, while encouraging those abroad not to give up the fight until help arrived.
UN Origins Project Series, Part 1: How the Allies Won World War II and Forged a Peace
This project builds on the recently published book, “America, Hitler and the UN: How the Allies Won World War II and Forged a Peace,” by Dan Plesch, the Director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy.
An Easy Way to Improve U.S.-Latin American Relations
During his attendance at a recent African Union summit, former Brazilian president Lula da Silva critiqued the structure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC): “it isn’t possible that Latin America, with its 400 million inhabitants, does not have permanent representation. Five countries decide what to do and how to do it, regardless of the rest of the humans living on this planet.”
Syria Just Might Be More Cooperative if Its Reactor Hadn’t Been Blown to Bits
Syria, however repressive, can’t realistically be expected to cooperate with inquiries into its nuclear program after its reactor was bombed.
Review: America, Hitler, and the UN
According to convention, the United Nations began with the signing of the UN charter in San Francisco in 1945. From that beginning, the organization evolved into a global deliberative body of nearly 200 member states. For some, the UN is incapable of managing an anarchic international system. For others, the UN represents an attempt by the major powers following World War II to maintain or expand their empires by dressing them in the guise of an international democratic order.
Enabled by Obama, Netanyahu Attempts to Hold Back the Tide of History
President Obama does Israel no favors in the long run by urging European leaders not to support Palestinian statehood in a U.N. vote.