UN General Assembly: Strengths and Weaknesses

Overview

• Previous lesson covered UN General Assembly's functions and purposes.
• Current lesson focuses on appraisal of its effectiveness and success.
• Discussion includes textbook perspectives on weaknesses and lecturer's disagreement.
• Offers multiple perspectives useful for exam analyses.

Strengths of the UN General Assembly

Multilateralism

• Represents a significant example of successful multilateralism.
• Only global institution with representation from every country.
• Functions effectively, unlike other specific institutions like the WTO.
• Highlights unity in addressing global issues (conflict, poverty, environment, human rights).

Consensus Building

• Endorsed Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.
• 2005 World Summit agreement on "responsibility to protect" against international crimes.
• Instrumental in climate change discussions (e.g., 2018 consensus of 146 nations).

Weaknesses of the UN General Assembly

Non-Binding Resolutions

• Resolutions represent "soft power"; not legally binding.
• Example: US embargo on Cuba—annual resolutions with no effect.
• Reflects broader issue of enforceability in international law.

Equal Voting Rights

• Textbook argues unequal voting power; lecturer disagrees.
• Equal voting reflects state equality in international law.
• Critique of potential Western global hegemony.

Inconsistency with State Agendas

• Realist perspective: States act in self-interest, which conflicts with UN General Assembly's consensus goals.
• Example: US, Israel, and other states aligning votes based on political interests (e.g., Cuban embargo).

Geopolitical Dynamics

Entanglement Theory

• States with common enemies act in alignment, affecting voting (e.g., US and Israel vs. Iran).

UN General Assembly Speeches

• Platform for world leaders and cultural figures.
• Can be used to address important issues or as a political tool (e.g., Trump and Netanyahu's speeches attacking Iran).

Conclusion

• UN General Assembly's strengths in multilateralism and consensus building are evident.
• Weaknesses lie in non-binding resolutions and potential misalignment with state agendas.
• Offers a platform for diverse representation but can also be used for political posturing.