Often the great powers themselves involved in many of the conflicts used their veto power to block any action by the UNO. Sometimes, they have also used their power to force the UN to bend to their dictates. However, the very existence of a forum like UN has forced the great powers to exercise moderation and self-control. The special powers also have given the great powers a special role and responsibility in preserving world peace.
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Do you think that wars are related to poverty, lack of equitable development and cultural exchanges between countries? According to some, the special powers given to the five powers is undemocratic and should be abolished while some others feel that if these country do not have special powers, the UNO cannot function smoothly. Discuss. |
While the UN has been doing commendable work in the area of education, health, cultural exchange and protection of heritage, it has been less successful in preventing wars. It has often been held hostage to the ambitions of the super-powers who seek control over the world.
Two major ideological and political camps emerged in the post war period – the Communist block led by the USSR and the Democratic-Capitalist Block led by the USA. On one hand, the USSR promoted the ideas of equality and state controlled development and suppression of opposition to these principles. On the other hand, USA promoted the ideas of multiparty democracy and private capitalist controlled process of development. The USSR had the entire Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, and East Germany) under its influence and many colonies which were gaining freedom like China and Vietnam were closely aligned to it. The countries of Western Europe like Britain, France, Spain were closely allied with the USA. The two blocks competed with each other for bringing all the intermediate countries in their blocks.
For more than forty-five years after the Second World War, a rather strange
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