INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
🌍 International
Peace refers to an ideal state of harmony and cooperation among all nations and
people, where conflicts, war, and violence are absent. It promotes global
unity, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.
🔑 KEY
FEATURES:
📌 Absence of War: No armed conflict or threat
among countries.
📌 Peaceful Coexistence: People and nations
live with tolerance and mutual understanding, despite differences.
📌 Global Cooperation: Encourages diplomatic
relations, trade, and humanitarian collaboration.
📌 Promotion of Human Rights: Respects freedom,
dignity, and justice for all individuals and communities.
📌 Sustainable Development: Peace supports
development in fields like education, technology, healthcare, and environment.
🛠️ MEANS TO
ACHIEVE PEACE:
- ✍️ Education for Peace
– Encouraging values like empathy, dialogue, and tolerance.
- 🕊️ Non-violent
Conflict Resolution – Diplomacy and negotiations instead of warfare.
- 🌐 Global
Organizations – Like the United Nations, working to resolve disputes
peacefully.
- 💡 Scientific
and Technological Advancements – In medicine, engineering, and
communications, used ethically to uplift societies.
📚 Example:
- UN’s
peace efforts in post-conflict nations (e.g., Liberia, Cambodia) show how
international collaboration helps rebuild societies peacefully.
MEANING OF INTERNATIONAL
SECURITY
🛡️ International
Security, also known as Global Security, refers to the collective measures
taken by countries and international bodies to protect nations from threats,
ensure peaceful coexistence, and promote global survival and stability.
🔍 Core
Components:
- 🪖 Military
Alliances – Defense cooperation (e.g., NATO).
- 🤝 Diplomatic
Agreements – Treaties, peace pacts, and conventions.
- 💰 Economic
Strategies – Trade agreements, sanctions, and development aid.
- 🔒 Cyber and
Technological Security – Protecting nations from digital threats.
- 🌿 Environmental
and Public Health Security – Tackling climate change, pandemics, and food
scarcity.
🧭 Types of
Threats:
|
Traditional Threats |
Modern (Non-Traditional) Threats |
|
Armed Conflicts |
Climate Change |
|
Terrorism |
Infectious Diseases |
|
Border Disputes |
Cyber Attacks |
|
Nuclear Weapons |
Resource Scarcity (food/water) |
🏢 Organizations
Working for Security:
- United
Nations (UN)
- European
Union (EU)
- ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
- African
Union (AU)
- World
Health Organization (WHO) – for health-related security
🔄 Traditional
vs Contemporary Views:
|
🔸 Traditional
View |
🔸
Contemporary View |
|
Focus on military and territorial
protection |
Emphasizes human security,
environmental stability, and digital safety |
|
State-centric |
Global, collective approach |
|
Arms race and deterrence |
Peacebuilding and sustainable
development |
ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN
MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
🌐 The United
Nations (UN), established in 1945, plays a central role in maintaining peace
and security globally. Its charter entrusts it with preventing conflicts, resolving
disputes, and helping nations recover after wars.
🛠️ Main
Strategies of the UN:
- 🕊️ Conflict
Prevention – Early diplomacy, negotiations, sanctions.
- ✍️ Mediation & Dialogue –
Encouraging peaceful resolution between warring groups.
- 🛡️ Peacekeeping
Operations – Deploying troops to monitor ceasefires and protect civilians.
- 🌱 Peacebuilding
– Reconstructing war-torn societies with sustainable development efforts.
✅ MAJOR
ORGANS AND THEIR ROLES
🏛️ (i) UN
Security Council
- Holds
primary responsibility under Article 24 of the UN Charter.
- Can
take binding decisions on member nations.
- Authorizes
military action, imposes sanctions, or initiates peacekeeping missions.
- Can
form agreements with nations to contribute armed forces.
🏛️ (ii) UN
General Assembly
- Consists
of all 193 member nations.
- Discusses
international peace issues and makes non-binding recommendations.
- Can
refer important matters to the Security Council.
- Encourages
global dialogue and cooperation.
👤 (iii) UN
Secretary-General & Special Envoys
- Act
as impartial mediators.
- Engage
in quiet diplomacy and send representatives to conflict regions.
- Address
emerging crises through field visits and reports.
🕊️ UN's PEACEKEEPING
OPERATIONS
🛡️ Purpose:
To monitor peace agreements, protect
civilians, and support reconstruction in conflict zones.
🪖 Components:
- Military
forces
- Police
units
- Civilian
advisors
🔍 Activities
Include:
- Monitoring
ceasefires and buffer zones
- Supporting
free and fair elections
- Facilitating
disarmament and reintegration of combatants
- Promoting
human rights
- Assisting
in legal system reforms
🏢 Managed By:
- Department
of Peace Operations (DPO)
- Department
of Operational Support (DOS)
🌍 Contributing
Countries:
- Troops
and police are contributed voluntarily by UN Member States.
🌱 UN's PEACEBUILDING
🛠️ Objectives:
To prevent the re-emergence of conflict
by helping nations build inclusive and resilient systems.
🔑 Key Areas:
- Rebuilding
government institutions
- Promoting
democracy and rule of law
- Supporting
reconciliation and inclusion
- Strengthening
the economy and civil society
- Addressing
root causes of conflict (inequality, marginalization, etc.)
⚠️ Importance:
Essential in post-conflict nations
where tensions remain high (e.g., Rwanda, South Sudan).
🚨 CONTEMPORARY
CHALLENGES TO PEACE AND SECURITY
Despite UN efforts, maintaining global
peace faces numerous modern challenges:
|
Challenge |
Explanation |
|
🔺 Rise in
Intrastate Conflicts |
Most wars today are internal,
involving rebel groups or ethnic tensions. |
|
🧨 Terrorism
& Extremism |
Non-state actors like terror groups
complicate peace processes. |
|
💰 Financial
Constraints |
High cost of prolonged peacekeeping
operations burdens the UN. |
|
🌍
Environmental Crises |
Climate change and natural disasters
trigger migration and conflict. |
|
👤 Attacks on
UN Staff |
UN personnel are often targeted in
conflict zones. |
|
⚖️ Political
Divisions |
Geopolitical rivalries (e.g.,
US-China, Russia-West) affect consensus in UN bodies. |
|
🤝 Need for
Partnerships |
Regional organizations play
increasing roles (e.g., African Union, NATO). |
📊 SUMMARY
TABLE
|
🌐 Aspect |
📝 Key Points |
|
International Peace |
Harmony among nations, absence of
war, global cooperation |
|
International Security |
Protection from military,
environmental, health, and cyber threats |
|
UN’s Role |
Peacekeeping, conflict resolution,
peacebuilding, diplomacy |
|
Security Council |
Binding decisions, sanctions,
military action authorization |
|
General Assembly |
Discussions, non-binding
recommendations, referrals |
|
Peacekeeping |
Field missions to enforce peace and
protect civilians |
|
Peacebuilding |
Long-term development, rule of law,
reconciliation |
|
Challenges |
Complex conflicts, terrorism, lack of
cooperation, financial burden |
✅ CONCLUSION
The United Nations continues to be the backbone
of global peace efforts, using a multi-dimensional strategy that combines diplomacy,
military monitoring, humanitarian aid, and development. While its success
varies based on political support and global dynamics, the UN’s mission remains
essential to achieving a just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
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