Dr. Brendan O' Leary
Ph.D, Keble College, Oxford University and the London School of Economics & Political Science Lauder Professor of Political Science and International Relations Constitutional advisor for the European Union and the United Nations Senior Advisor on Power-Sharing in the Department of Political Affairs of the United Nations Advisor for the United Kingdom's Department of International Development Divided Nations and European Integration, 2013 Email interview, January 2015 |
Student: How effective do you believe the United Nations is in promoting peaceful relationships between nations?
Dr. O'Leary: "It has been far more effective than its predecessor the League of Nations. So far, it has helped us avoid World War III. After 1960 it proved a useful instrument in assisting the decolonization of the European empires. The good offices of the Secretary General have been especially important in easing relations between small and medium-sized powers, to prevent conflicts and to bring wars to an end earlier than they might otherwise end. The UN finds it much more difficult to mediate successfully in disputes among the P5 (the permanent members) or in disputes where rivalrous entities are backed by different members of the P5. UN peace-keeping missions have been been deployed in many parts of the world, showing that there is both a need and demand for the UN’s blue helmets. Monitoring cease-fires and sitting in between potential combatants is not to be underestimated in avoiding war, especially war by accident. The UN’s mediation capacity is improving but its capacities are only as strong as its members, including the P5, permit. when thinking of criticizing the United Nations people should always recall it is only as good as its members allow it to be, and they should be obliged to propose a more effective alternative. Its field agencies, in development, and in human rights, genocide-prevention and so act as global scorekeepers and objective sources of information for rivalrous member-states."
Student: What are some historical aspects of how the United Nations has demonstrated its legacy?
Dr. O'Leary"I’m not sure what you mean by the question, but I think the UN has played useful roles in mediating civil wars in Africa, and in peace-keeping missions in Kashmir and Cyprus that are decades old. It has been less effective in Lebanon, but regional powers are responsible for that. "
Student: How would the world be different if the United Nations did not exist?
Dr. O'Leary: "One can imagine many possibilities. A UN abandoned by one or more of the key great powers (the US, the Russian Federation or China) might emerge after a crisis, in which case that power would lose its veto power, and that would mean that the rump UN would become an instrument of the remaining powers. That would encourage the withdrawing power to reconsider its position. If the UN had not been created in San Francisco under American leadership—something Americans often forget---- it is difficult to believe that we would have had as much peace as have had since 1948 — the incidence of inter-governmental war is much less than it has been for a longtime. "
Student: What are some ways that we could improve the United Nations as a whole?
Dr. O'Leary: "Yes. The Security Council needs to have additional regional powers, not just the victors of World War II. It needs Nigeria and South Africa, for example, to represent Africa; Brazil and Mexico from Latin America; India and perhaps Indonesia; and, more controversially (& provided they were democratic) Iran and Egypt from the Middle East. The European Union could have two seats rotated among its own big four or among all its members). It should be funded from a fixed tax of one per cent of the GDP of all its member-states in return for transparent conduct of its administration, and a periodic review of the allocations among member-states. It needs to find ways to incorporate the representation of minorities (including indigenous peoples) both within its organizations and in its decision-making (the member-states are the key obstacles here). The world’s states should consider empowering specialized agencies over matters affecting climate change. "
Student: Any other points you would like to mention about the United Nations or international political affairs in general?
Dr. O'Leary: "America made the UN. It should not use it as a scapegoat, and it can help make it better. The UN and the member-states may need to rethink the management if not the mandate of the International Criminal Court."
Dr. O'Leary: "It has been far more effective than its predecessor the League of Nations. So far, it has helped us avoid World War III. After 1960 it proved a useful instrument in assisting the decolonization of the European empires. The good offices of the Secretary General have been especially important in easing relations between small and medium-sized powers, to prevent conflicts and to bring wars to an end earlier than they might otherwise end. The UN finds it much more difficult to mediate successfully in disputes among the P5 (the permanent members) or in disputes where rivalrous entities are backed by different members of the P5. UN peace-keeping missions have been been deployed in many parts of the world, showing that there is both a need and demand for the UN’s blue helmets. Monitoring cease-fires and sitting in between potential combatants is not to be underestimated in avoiding war, especially war by accident. The UN’s mediation capacity is improving but its capacities are only as strong as its members, including the P5, permit. when thinking of criticizing the United Nations people should always recall it is only as good as its members allow it to be, and they should be obliged to propose a more effective alternative. Its field agencies, in development, and in human rights, genocide-prevention and so act as global scorekeepers and objective sources of information for rivalrous member-states."
Student: What are some historical aspects of how the United Nations has demonstrated its legacy?
Dr. O'Leary"I’m not sure what you mean by the question, but I think the UN has played useful roles in mediating civil wars in Africa, and in peace-keeping missions in Kashmir and Cyprus that are decades old. It has been less effective in Lebanon, but regional powers are responsible for that. "
Student: How would the world be different if the United Nations did not exist?
Dr. O'Leary: "One can imagine many possibilities. A UN abandoned by one or more of the key great powers (the US, the Russian Federation or China) might emerge after a crisis, in which case that power would lose its veto power, and that would mean that the rump UN would become an instrument of the remaining powers. That would encourage the withdrawing power to reconsider its position. If the UN had not been created in San Francisco under American leadership—something Americans often forget---- it is difficult to believe that we would have had as much peace as have had since 1948 — the incidence of inter-governmental war is much less than it has been for a longtime. "
Student: What are some ways that we could improve the United Nations as a whole?
Dr. O'Leary: "Yes. The Security Council needs to have additional regional powers, not just the victors of World War II. It needs Nigeria and South Africa, for example, to represent Africa; Brazil and Mexico from Latin America; India and perhaps Indonesia; and, more controversially (& provided they were democratic) Iran and Egypt from the Middle East. The European Union could have two seats rotated among its own big four or among all its members). It should be funded from a fixed tax of one per cent of the GDP of all its member-states in return for transparent conduct of its administration, and a periodic review of the allocations among member-states. It needs to find ways to incorporate the representation of minorities (including indigenous peoples) both within its organizations and in its decision-making (the member-states are the key obstacles here). The world’s states should consider empowering specialized agencies over matters affecting climate change. "
Student: Any other points you would like to mention about the United Nations or international political affairs in general?
Dr. O'Leary: "America made the UN. It should not use it as a scapegoat, and it can help make it better. The UN and the member-states may need to rethink the management if not the mandate of the International Criminal Court."