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International Organisations — Part 2: Reform, India and Other Organisations

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Lesson

Reform, India and other organisations

Part 2 — why the UN is being asked to change, where India stands, and the work of other organisations.

In this lesson you will

Explain why the UN needs reform after the Cold War and the two kinds of reform
Evaluate proposals for Security Council reform, including the veto
Describe India's position on UN reform, with arguments and objections
State the roles of the IMF, World Bank, WTO, IAEA, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch

Part 2 at a glance

Concept

Why reform after the Cold War?

Table comparing 1945 and now: 51 against 193 members, Cold War against a changed world, war between states against new threats, and the same permanent five
Then (1945)	Now
51 members	193 members, many from Asia, Africa and Latin America
Cold War rivalry ahead	Cold War over; new powers and new economies
Main worry: wars between states	Also terrorism, civil wars, climate, disease
Permanent five chosen by the winners of the war	Same permanent five today

Concept

Two kinds of reform

Table of the two kinds of UN reform: structures and processes, for example Security Council membership and the veto; and jurisdiction, for example terrorism, development and human rights
Kind of reform	Meaning	Example
Structures and processes	How the UN is organised and decides	Changing Security Council membership or the veto
Jurisdiction	Which issues the UN should deal with	Terrorism, development, human rights