Reading Guide for the UN

A chart showing the complex organization of the UN System, which includes the organs mentioned in the Charter along with a vast array of specialized institutions.

The United Nations represents many ideals in international relations, both liberal and realist. It was a product of a neoliberal desire to develop an institutional framework to make war in the international system less likely, but it also includes several realist considerations. World War II made many leaders and countries weary from war, but they were hardly willing to give up any of their states’ positions in the world in order to guarantee peace.

As you read the Charter, the governing document of the UN, particularly in the first two articles, think about how realists and liberals would interpret the document. Particularly think about how the organs, especially the General Assembly and the Security Council, reflect realist and liberal ideas about international politics. Be sure to understand how the General Assembly (Chapter IV) and Security Council (Chapter V) work, and how the UN is supposed to prevent and manage international disputes (Chapter VI) and threats to international peace and stability (Chapter VII).

You should also look at how the UN, as a global organization, relates to regional organizations (Chapter VIII), and how it handles non-security issues (Chapter IX).