PSIR Optional (India and UN) by Viraj C Rane

Model Answer

Question #1. The United Nations is not a political system acting in vacuum, nor does it operate above international system. Comment  10 marks (150 words)

Approach:

• Intro: UN a forum for international governance dealing with a wide-ranging issue.
• Body: It is prone to political influence and operates with the ambit of global politics.
• Conclusion: Despite the shortcoming, remains a relevant for co-operation.

The UN remains the only international body that approximates to a form of global governance, providing a framework through which the international community can address concerns ranging from peace & security, disarmament to environmental protection, poverty reduction and gender justice.

United Nations is not acting in vacuum because: 

• Funding pattern: funding pattern is skewed and this translates into disproportionate influence of some countries on UN body.  (For example, USA In 2020, contributed to more than $11 billion, which accounted for about under one-fifth of funding for the body’s collective budget.) Recently, US cut off funding to UNESCO over Jerusalem issue.
• UNSC: Using Veto any one among the P5 can derail any resolution at the UN. India is unable to make Pakistan accountable for terrorism due to veto by China. According to Amnesty International, Veto is used "promote political self-interest or geopolitical interest above the interest of protecting civilians."
• Appointment:  Even the appointment of the Secretary General is subject to Veto.
• Fait accompli: The practice of the permanent members meeting privately and then presenting their resolutions to the full council as a fait accompli has also drawn criticism; 
• In the book Snakes in Suits, allegations of mismanagement, scandal, and corruption that permeate the United Nations.

Does not operate above international system 

It is argued that it cannot operate above the global system because of Compulsion of the global order.

• The UN could not prevent the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 nor the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• A unilateral war, without the UN’s sanction, goes against the fundamentals of its Charter. The organisation was established, in the wake of the devastating World War II, to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Critics point out the impunity with which the powerful countries of international system taken decision based on their interests and hard power calculations 

Reforms:

In light of these there is Growing clamour for democratisation of UN.

• The council’s structure is criticised as it does not reflect current geopolitical realities. Regional powers such as Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Nigeria, and South Africa have sought to enlarge the council or secure permanent seats of their own.Others have called for France to cede its permanent seatto the European Union in the wake of Brexit.
• The general assembly needs to be empowered to counter the Veto of UNSC P5.

Conclusion:

The UN did not fossilize around its initial mission, but it has, rather, succeeded in adapting and redefining itself in the light of new global challenges. Not only has the UN developed into the leading organization promoting economic and social development worldwide, but it has also helped to shape the agenda as far as new global issues are concerned, ranging from climate change and gender equality to population control and dealing with pandemics. Although the UN will never be able to prevent all wars and resolve all conflicts, it provides an indispensable framework for cooperation, should the international community choose to use it. The UN, however imperfectly, increase the chances that international conflict can be resolved without resorting to war.

Question #2. UN reforms and India. 15 marks (250 words)

The United Nations since its inception has promoted international cooperation through maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights and fostering social and economic development. India was a founding member of the United Nations, joining it in October 1945, two years before acquiring independence from the British. By 1946, it had started raising concerns regarding colonialism, disarmament and racial discrimination. It stood at the forefront during the UN’s tumultuous years of struggle against colonialism and apartheid.

Historic Contribution of India in the UN Reforms: - 

1. From early 1947-1948, it took an active part in drafting the Universal Declaration on Human Rights highlighting the need for reflecting gender equality by changing the language of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights from ‘all men are created equal to ‘all men and women are created equal’.
2. In 1953, Vijaya Laxmi Pandit was elected the first woman President of the UN General Assembly. India supported the struggle toward global disarmament and the ending of the arms race, and the creation of a more equitable international economic order.
3. India was also amongst the most outspoken critics of apartheid and racial discrimination in South Africa. In fact, it was the first country to raise the issue in the UN and played a leading role in the formation of a Sub-Committee against Apartheid set up by the General Assembly. When the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted in 1965, India was among the earliest signatories.
4. Being the founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, India cemented its position within the UN system as a leading advocate of the concerns and aspirations of developing countries and the creation of a more equitable international economic and political order.
5. June 21 was declared the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. This initiative found support from many global leaders. A total of 175 nations co-sponsored the resolution and had the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA Resolution of such nature.
6. These are some of the instances when India has played a key role in the United Nations reforms. It has always taken a strong stand on issues of national importance and spoken actively about those of global importance.

India’s Regime for the UN Reforms and the Road Ahead: - 

India’s Bid for the United Nations Security Council (hereinafter the UNSC): - 

1. Arguments have been raised that the United Nations Security Council still reflects the geopolitical architecture of the 2nd World War. Even though the number of countries that are members of the United Nations has increased from 113 to 193, the UNSC has been expanded only once that too in 1963 to add 4 non-permanent members. Nations from Africa find no place in permanent membership despite 75% of the UNSC work being focused there.
2. The Government of India has strongly put forward India’s case for permanent membership in the Security Council, which is based on its extensive contribution to the activities of the UN particularly the maintenance of international peace and security. 
3. So far India has taken part in 43 Peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding 160,000 troops and the significant number of police personnel having been deployed. 
4. Objective criteria such as population, territorial size, GDP, political system etc. also point towards India’s suitability for permanent membership of the expanded UNSC.

Balancing National Interest and Multilateralism: 

1. The primary objective of India’s present multilateralism should be to ensure its territorial integrity, especially at a time when China has adopted an aggressive posture on the border.
2. India can utilize the post-COVID-multilateral regime to serve her interests. Like aligning with QUAD countries to counter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, or working with mechanisms like FATF to mount pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting cross-border terrorism, and money laundering in India.
3. Further, while reclaiming its role in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), India can engage with other multilateral institutions as new rule-making as India is not at a disadvantage if rule-making takes place outside the UN for imbibing the objectives of the UN. 

Conclusion

History teaches that the fact that crises catalyse states to rise above inertia, myopia, and narrow self-interest. This can be reflected in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 Conferences at Bretton Woods and San Francisco in the 1940s. The present pandemic is similar to the crisis that can lead to a drastic shift in world affairs.

Further, given the global issues, today the world needs multilateralism more than ever. Thus, it is necessary to reform the UN. In this context, India must utilize her non-permanent membership in the UNSC for bringing much-needed reforms to the system. Along with the same, India need not hesitate to make and establish relationships outside the UN for furthering the UN perspective.