United Nations and Non-Aligned Movement
Overview
'The UNITED NATIONS was created in 1945 to PREVENT another world war. The NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) was created in 1961 to help newly independent nations STAY OUT of the Cold War — led by INDIA's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. ICSE examiners LOVE NAM questions — they connect Indian HISTORY with WORLD history.'
The United Nations — Foundation
Origins
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | LEAGUE OF NATIONS (failed — did not prevent WWII) |
| UN Charter Signed | 26 JUNE 1945 — San Francisco |
| Effective Date | 24 OCTOBER 1945 (UN Day) |
| Original Members | 51 countries |
| Current Members | 193 |
Aims and Purposes (Article 1 of UN Charter)
- Maintain INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
- Develop FRIENDLY relations among nations
- Achieve INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION in solving ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, and HUMANITARIAN problems
- Be a CENTRE for harmonising the actions of nations
Principles (Article 2)
- SOVEREIGN EQUALITY of all member states
- All disputes to be SETTLED PEACEFULLY
- All members shall REFRAIN from the threat or use of force
- NON-INTERVENTION in the domestic affairs of any state
- All members shall ASSIST the UN in its actions
Principal Organs of the UN
1. General Assembly
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | ALL member states — ONE vote each |
| Session | Meets ONCE a year (Sep–Dec) — special sessions possible |
| Powers | Discusses ANY matter. Recommends actions. Approves BUDGET. Admits NEW members. Elects NON-PERMANENT Security Council members |
| Limitations | Resolutions are RECOMMENDATORY — NOT binding (except budget) |
| ICSE Focus | 'The General Assembly is the WORLD'S parliament — but its resolutions have NO FORCE. This is a KEY weakness.' |
2. Security Council
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | 15 members — 5 PERMANENT + 10 NON-PERMANENT (elected for 2 years) |
| Permanent Members (P5) | USA, UK, FRANCE, RUSSIA (formerly USSR), CHINA |
| VETO Power | ANY permanent member can VETO a resolution — killing it |
| Role | PRIMARY responsibility for INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY |
| Decisions | BINDING on all UN members |
Criticism of the Security Council
- The P5 are the VICTORS of WWII — 80 years ago
- DEVELOPING countries (Africa, Asia, Latin America) have NO permanent voice
- The VETO power PARALYSES the Council — Russia has vetoed on Ukraine, USA on Israel
- ICSE focus: 'Nehru CRITICISED the veto — he said it made the UN undemocratic. India DEMANDS Security Council reform.'
3. Other Principal Organs
| Organ | Function |
|---|---|
| ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC) | Coordinates ECONOMIC and SOCIAL work of UN and its agencies |
| TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL | Supervised TRUST territories — now SUSPENDED (all trust territories achieved independence) |
| INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ) | Principal JUDICIAL organ — settles disputes between STATES. Located in THE HAGUE |
| SECRETARIAT | Administrative organ — headed by the SECRETARY-GENERAL |
Specialised Agencies of the UN
UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 1946 (originally for post-WWII children) |
| HQ | NEW YORK |
| Focus | CHILDREN'S health, education, nutrition, protection |
| Achievements | Universal CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION. Reduced CHILD MORTALITY |
| ICSE Note | 'Awarded the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE in 1965' |
WHO (World Health Organization)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 1948 |
| HQ | GENEVA |
| Focus | HEALTH for all — disease prevention, health standards |
| Achievements | ERADICATION of SMALLPOX (1980). Polio NEARLY eradicated. COVID-19 response |
| ICSE Note | 'WHO's definition of health: "a state of COMPLETE physical, mental, and social well-being" — NOT merely absence of disease' |
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 1945 |
| HQ | PARIS |
| Focus | EDUCATION FOR ALL, cultural HERITAGE preservation, scientific COOPERATION |
| Achievements | World HERITAGE SITES. Education for ALL programme |
| ICSE Note | 'UNESCO's Constitution: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed"' |
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Origins and Background
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cold War | The world DIVIDED into TWO camps — USA (capitalist) and USSR (communist) |
| Decolonisation | MANY Asian and African nations became INDEPENDENT after WWII |
| Desire for Independence | New nations did NOT want to be PAWNS in the Cold War |
| Leadership | Nehru (India), Tito (Yugoslavia), Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia), Nkrumah (Ghana) |
Bandung Conference (1955)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | BANDUNG, Indonesia |
| Participants | 29 Asian and African countries |
| Outcome | Laid the FOUNDATION for NAM — FIVE PRINCIPLES (Panchsheel) |
| ICSE Focus | 'The Bandung Conference showed that ASIA and AFRICA had a VOICE — independent of both SUPER POWERS' |
The Five Principles of Panchsheel
- Mutual RESPECT for territorial INTEGRITY and SOVEREIGNTY
- Mutual NON-AGGRESSION
- Mutual NON-INTERFERENCE in internal affairs
- EQUALITY and mutual BENEFIT
- PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
First NAM Summit (Belgrade, 1961)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | SEPTEMBER 1961 |
| Host | Josip Broz TITO (Yugoslavia) |
| Participants | 25 countries |
| Outcome | FORMAL establishment of NAM |
| Key Resolution | Opposed COLONIALISM, supported DISARMAMENT, called for PEACEFUL coexistence |
| Nehru's Role | Nehru was a FOUNDING FATHER — his vision of a THIRD WAY between America and Russia was CENTRAL to NAM |
Nehru's Role in NAM
- Nehru BELIEVED: newly independent nations must NOT join military blocs
- He ARGUED: NAM was NOT neutrality — it was ACTIVE engagement for PEACE
- He INSISTED: India would JUDGE each issue on its MERITS — not follow the USA or USSR
- ICSE focus: 'Nehru's foreign policy is OFTEN tested. Remember: NAM = ACTIVE independence, not PASSIVE neutrality'
Key Dates Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1945 | UN Charter signed in San Francisco |
| 1946 | UNICEF established |
| 1948 | WHO established. Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
| 1955 | Bandung Conference |
| 1961 | First NAM Summit, Belgrade |
| 1965 | UNICEF wins Nobel Peace Prize |
Common Mistakes in ICSE Answers
| Mistake | Correction |
|---|---|
| Calling NAM 'Neutrality' | NAM is ACTIVE NON-ALIGNMENT — not being PASSIVE |
| Confusing GENERAL ASSEMBLY with SECURITY COUNCIL | GA = ALL members, ONE vote each. SC = 15 members, P5 have VETO |
| Forgetting PANCHSHEEL | The FIVE Principles are ALWAYS testable |
| Treating UN agencies as INDEPENDENT | They are SPECIALISED agencies — part of the UN SYSTEM |
| Ignoring the VETO power | Veto is the MOST CONTROVERSIAL feature — mention it |
ICSE Exam Focus — Marks Blueprint
| Question Type | Marks | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Structure of UN — Principal Organs | 6-8 | Always |
| Security Council — composition, veto | 6-8 | Always |
| NAM — origins, Bandung, Belgrade | 6-8 | Always |
| UN Agencies — WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO | 4-6 | Very High |
| Nehru's role in NAM | 4-6 | Very High |
Self-Test
-
UN Organs: Name the SIX principal organs of the UN. What is the PRIMARY function of EACH?
-
Security Council: What is the composition of the Security Council? Explain the VETO power. Why is it CRITICISED?
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NAM: What was the NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT? Who were its FOUNDING leaders? When and where was the FIRST summit?
-
Panchsheel: What are the FIVE PRINCIPLES of PANCHSHEEL? Where were they FIRST articulated?
-
UNESCO: What is UNESCO? What are its MAIN objectives? Quote the FAMOUS line from its Constitution.
-
Nehru: What was Jawaharlal Nehru's ROLE in the founding of NAM? How did he DEFINE non-alignment?
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Agencies: Name THREE specialised agencies of the UN. What does EACH do? Where are their HEADQUARTERS?
