Security of the First World, A Weak UN

Prevailing culture mandates the continued existence of creature comforts of the form that have taken shape in the West over the past five decades. Furthermore, the culture mandates of the same poulation that appearances consistent with these comforts, instilled across centuries of political posturing and social compromises also be maintained. As such developmental trends and standards by which this same development is measured are, by in large, expected to be spread to the rest of the world. Certainly, seeing what is had by the "haves" is sufficient to generate desire in the "have nots."

It is unreasonable to believe that the spread of democracy in the world is sufficient to guarantee that development in underdeveloped nations will create the same opportunities that are available at present in established powerful industrialized democracies. This is especially true in the face of vicious competition, drastically compressed timelines for development, and huge cultural differences. It is also unreasonable to believe that the same types of development that are the source of power and authority for industrialized nations will provide for the people of underdeveloped nations in this contemporary frame. This is especially true at a time when the developmental processes of the industrialized world are being called into question for their environmental, social, and legal implications. A new set of answers is required. One that is sensitive to the needs of the many cultures that the development seeks to assist; one that is sensitive to the needs of the new world in which it operates - maintaining not only a competitive edge but an environmentally sound approach; one that is responsive to the speed with which change occurs in the world.

The work of the UN and its adjunct organizations has conducted extensive research into the issues surrounding all of the most pressing of human issues. The UN has made contacts in all of its member states regarding each and every human issue.

Just when the UN appears its weakest, can we realize its importance and strength.

The cliche that necessity is the mother of invention befits the UN. Its inception following WWII as a replacement for the defunct League of Nations was a statement of necessity. The UN was founded to provide a means for conflict resolution without armed conflict. In this mandate, the UN has become decreasingly successful. Non-State actors have the capacity to wage warfare as effectively as states do, as exampled by the standoff in Lebanon from 12 July until 15 August 2006. Armed conflicts peppered the latter half of the 20th century as the Cold War tenaciously advanced. Most of these conflicts, and several of the attacks that were enjoined within them, were condemned by the UN and its member states, but, the UN was powerless to stop them. The UN does not seek to police the world, it acts only as a forum within which grievances can be articulated. Amid the bureaucracy and declarations, the ability to act remains disconnected consideration. As a result, the UN is saddled with the task of cleaning up all of the human tragedies that are left in the violent wake.