Notes for World History
SUCCESS & FAILURE OF UN IN MAINTAINING PEACE
SUCCESS OF UN AS PEACEKEEPING ORGANISATION
- UN has been more successful than the League in its peacekeeping efforts. This can be observed from the following disputes :
- West New Guinea: UN helped West New Guinea, which was claimed both by Holland and Indonesia after latter’s independence from former, become part of Indonesia.
- Palestine: UN tried to solve the dispute between Jews and Arabs by dividing Palestine and setting up the Jewish state of Israel.
- Korean War : When South Korea was invaded by the North, UN condemned North Korea and sent help to the South.
- Suez Crisis: When Egypt suddenly nationalized the Suez Canal, Britain and France sent troops to protect their interests, In such a situation, UN forces helped prevent war.
- Civil war in Congo : When Congo dissolved into chaos immediately after gaining independence, UN forces helped restore some order.
- Kashmir : For 16 years, UN policed the ceasefire line between South Kashmir occupied by India and North Kashmir occupied by Pakistan.
- Iran-Iraq war : UN was successful in bringing an end to the long-drawn-out war between Iran and Iraq from 1980-88.
FAILURE OF UN IN PEACEKEEPING:
- UN took no action in the civil war and genocide taking place in Rwanda in 1994.
- In the civil war between Bosnian Muslims and Serbs, the UN failed to send enough troops to impose law and order.
- In 2003 , USA and Britain launched invasion of Iraq even though the UN Security Council had not given its authorization.
