The United Nations: Words Without Action

In the modern world, the United Nations serves as a place of global cooperation and opinion. It has been demonstrated since the 1990’s that the United Nations no longer plays a substantial role in world affairs because it can only use words and cannot reinforce them with action. While words can be seen as the catalyst of diplomacy, the do not compare with action. In this sense, through the examples of the Rwandan genocide and the recent Gaza conflict, the United Nations no longer plays a significant role in world affairs.

In 1994 a civil war or sorts broke out in Rwanda. The Hutus were systematically exterminating the Tutsis due to political unrest that had been created by previous occupying parties. The United Nations Peace Keepers were a presence in Rwanda but instead of stopping the genocide, they instead removed any international citizens and/or visitors and left the Rwandans to fend for themselves. The United Nations Peace Keepers that remained were not allowed to use force to protect or aid the Rwandans in any way. While the United Nations condemned the acts of the Hutu militants, they did not intervene. In this conflict, the United Nations sent words when action was clearly needed. This lack of action goes to show that while the United Nations has a voice in world affairs; it does not have a significant or viable role.

To prove this point further, one cannot fail to address the recent conflict in the Gaza strip. From the onset, the United Nations met to discuss whether they should condemn it or not. Meanwhile, in the Gaza strip, people were being bombed in their homes by Israeli forces. Hamas, the ruling party of Gaza, was in hiding and only a few rockets were being launched from Gaza. After some delegation, the United Nations urged a ceasefire. At first, this recommendation was ignored. Israel and Gaza continued to attack one another. While the United Nations pleaded for this ceasefire, a temporary one was enacted for three hours a day to allow aid into Gaza. The United Nations saw that more was needed, but could do nothing besides continuing to issue verbal warnings. In the end, a ceasefire was declared once Israel had accomplished most of its goals in Gaza. The United Nations had little, if not nothing, to do with the end of the conflict.

While words may prove successful in trade agreements, it is clear that during conflicts they are futile. Due to the lack of force that the United Nations has to follow its words, as seen in the Rwandan genocide and the recent Gaza conflict, the United Nations no longer plays a significant role in world affairs. The role assumed by the modern day United Nations is idealistic in nature. Today, the United Nations serves more as the world’s conscience rather than its cooperative arm. Words may be powerful tools of diplomacy, but they have little impact when faced with and actual conflict.


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