A CRITICAL REVIEW OF AFRICA AND THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM REFORMS
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Qualitative
- Library / Doctrinal
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Educators
- NGN 3000
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
There have been heated debates on the issue of the relationship between Africa and the United Nations, especially as it concerns the reform agenda of the latter. Part of the significance of this study is that it is a contribution to an on-going intellectual debate on this issue. It is also of practical significance.
Academically, many scholars have made efforts on this research. They include Obiozor et al 1998, South Centre Analysts 2000, 2005 e.t.c. They opined that, although Africa and other developing regions have been very much part of this process of rapid global integration; the decision making processes and policy choices in the UN system have in the main been dominated by governments of the developed countries and Trans-National Corporations especially the United States and her allies. These actors have the international institution under their influence and absolute control (South Centre, 2000:7).
Precisely, these commentators stated that issues which are of priority interest to the North tend to predominate in the analyses and prescriptions that constitute the current international development agenda of the UN. They stressed the case of selective enforcement and implementation of the WTO agreements; seeking financial and monetary regimes and national structures friendly to North-based investors; national treatment for TNCs in developing countries; environmental and social clauses in the trade regime; and a new global intellectual property regime e.t.c. Importantly, domestic politics and even personalities, interest groups, powerful private corporations, and the media in some powerful countries of the North, are emerging not only as important factors shaping their own countries` policies at the international level, but also in their own right in the global arena, where they influence the priorities, policies, outputs and inner working of international organizations especially the United Nations. The major global corporations have also begun to provide financial contributions to international organizations, as sources of public funding diminish. In the absence of appropriate checks and balances, this will increase the already considerable asymmetry operating against the South in the global arena and within the United Nations. They also elucidated the negative effects of such arrangements which encompass the establishment of structures that place Africa in the periphery. The gap left by these academics in this intellectual exercise will be filled in the literature review column. That is to say that, they were not expository and educative as this work, as it analysis the contemporary dynamics of the subject matter.
This research is an effort aimed at enlightening Africa and the world in general on the issue of the UN system and its prevalent modus operandi in the globe.
Another major significance of this work is to contribute to the on-going vigorous attempt aimed at liberating Africa from backwardness in the Comity of Nations and re-position her strategically to assume a more relevant stance in global politics at this critical period of UN reform.
Practically, as investigation shows, the present UN system has variety of provisions that undermine African interest in global affairs. As Obiozor et al (1998:16) puts it,
Specifically for Africa which has 53 members out of 185 states in the United Nations, non- representation in the permanent membership of the Security Council is politically indefensible, morally reprehensible and philosophically defies all known as concept of justice and equity.
Also the response of the United Nations to grievous situations in Africa is nothing to write home about. Kofi Annan in “Confronting Conflict” had derided the UN’s capacity to respond swiftly and decisively to crises; and within Africa, to lack of forceful United Nations action to stop genocide has had a “particularly harsh” impact, leading to the tendency of some African governments to marginalize the UN from political involvement in regional affairs. In other words, African states have become hopeless of a purposeful UN that will be effective in arresting such situations. He stressed that the ‘horrifying’ suffering of the Rwandese people sends the clear and unmistakable message that the international community must never again tolerate such inaction. Again, the above assertions by the former UN Secretary General have become faulted by the Darfur crisis.
In relation to the above, another prevalent phenomenon is that when calls are made for UN intervention or assistance, it is pragmatic to state that it is a call for United States of America to exercise it’s hegemony in global affairs. To illustrate further, UN cannot intervene in conflicts except the United States sends troops and provides funding.
This is because it is an expensive venture. These scenarios are the same for other regions of the world outside the developed axis of the globe.
This work will make its contributions on the reforms of the UN system with a stress on the (permanent seat) Security Council, peace keeping operations and socio-economic development aspects.
Finally, the point has to be made that the study being of a realsit orientation, aims simply and squarely at explaining social reality the way it is. That is, that the UN system is under the dictates of the global capitalist regime led by the US and Trans-National Corporations. To this effect, the study will definitely serve as a guide to policy makers and implementers at domestic and international spheres.
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