The UN in a Unipolar World

The central question that runs through this section is whether the UN can act as a check on the power of the United States in a world where the US is the sole superpower. The collapse of the Soviet Union left the US without any serious rival, creating what is called a unipolar world. Many countries hoped that reforming the UN would help it cope better with this new reality. But can the UN actually balance US dominance, or prevent America from doing whatever it wants?

The honest answer, as the textbook explains, is that US power cannot be easily checked. There are several reasons for this.

First, the US is the only superpower left. Its military and economic strength are so vast that it can, if it chooses, simply ignore the UN or any other international organisation. No other country or group of countries can compel it to act.

Second, within the UN itself, the US has enormous influence. It is the single largest financial contributor to the organisation, giving it unmatched financial power. The UN headquarters is physically located in New York, which gives Washington additional leverage. Many US nationals work in the UN bureaucracy. Most importantly, the US holds a veto in the Security Council, which it can use to block any action it finds damaging to its own interests or those of its allies. This veto power also gives the US a considerable say in who becomes the Secretary-General. The US can and does use all these tools to split the rest of the world and reduce opposition to its policies.

Despite this, the UN is not useless. In a unipolar world, it has served and can serve a vital purpose: it brings the US and the rest of the world into discussion. Even US leaders, who often criticise the UN, recognise that it serves a purpose by bringing together over 190 nations to deal with conflict and social and economic development.

For the rest of the world, the UN provides an arena where it is possible to modify US attitudes and policies. While the rest of the world is rarely united against Washington, and while it is virtually impossible to "balance" US power, the UN does provide a space where arguments against specific US policies can be heard, and where compromises and concessions can be shaped.