History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Content Focus 2: Major conflicts after WWII and attempts to make peace – the
role of the United Nations in the peace-making attempts
Source A
The following cartoon reflects a view on the differences between the United Nations
and its forerunner, the League of Nations.
For reference by teachers only (Source A)
The original cartoon, titled History doesn’t repeat itself, was published in July 1950. It can
be seen on p. 358 of the following publication.
Denis Richards, An Illustrated History of Modern Europe, 1789-1984 (Harlow: Longman,
1985).
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source B
The following is cited from the official website of the United Nations. It is about the
history of the United Nations.
The name “United Nations”, coined by United States President Franklin D.
Roosevelt, was first used in the “Declaration by United Nations” of 1 January 1942,
during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their
Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.
…
The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization
conceived in similar circumstances during the First World War, and established in
1919 under the Treaty of Versailles “to promote international cooperation and to
achieve peace and security.” The International Labour Organization was also created
under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of
Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.
…
The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the
Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom,
the United States and by a majority of other signatories.
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source C
The following text is cited from the Charter of the United Nations.
WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
z to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our
lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
z to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the
human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and
small, and
z to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations
arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained,
and
z to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND FOR THESE ENDS
z
z
z
z
to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good
neighbours, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that
armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social
advancement of all peoples, …
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source D
The following cartoon reflects a view on the Permanent Members of the Security
Council of the United Nations.
For reference by teachers (Source D)
The original cartoon was published in 1946. It can be seen on p. 457 of the following
publication.
Christopher Condon, The Making of the Modern World (South Melbourne:
Macmillian, 1987).
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source E
There are six principal organs of the United Nations.
Secretariat
Trusteeship Council
General Assembly
The United Nations
International Court
of Justice
Security Council
Economic and
Social Council
Source F
The extract below describes the efforts of the United Nations in peace keeping.
UN peacemaking brings hostile parties to agreement through diplomatic means. The
Security Council, in its efforts to maintain international peace and security, may
recommend ways to avoid conflict or restore or secure peace – through negotiation, for
example, or recourse to the International Court of Justice.
The Secretary-General plays an important role in peacemaking. The Secretary-General
may bring the attention to the Security Council any matter that appears to threaten
international peace and security, use good offices to carry out mediation or exercise
quiet diplomacy behind the scenes… The Secretary-General also undertakes preventive
diplomacy aimed at resolving disputes before they escalate.
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source G
The following table shows a list of peace-making attempts the United Nations claimed
to achieve in the past.
Year
1962
1973
1988
1989
1990s
1999
Peace-making attempts
Helped to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Helped to defuse the Middle East Crisis.
A UN-sponsored peace settlement ended the Iran-Iraq War.
Un-sponsored negotiations led to the withdrawal of the Soviet
troops from Afghanistan.
Played a major role in ending civil wars in Cambodia, El
Salvador, Guatemala and Mozambique.
Authorized the dispatch of an international security force to help
East Timorese restore order.
Source H
The following extract is summarized from local newspapers and online materials of
the development of American-British joint military force against former Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein in March and April 2003.
(19 March 2003) George Bush, President of the United States, issued his final war cry,
giving the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Baghdad or face the “full
force and might” of coalition forces. Facing the ultimatum, France and Germany –
among the fierce opponents on the United Nations’ Security Council of the US-led
drive to war – stood their ground despite the collapse of diplomatic efforts to avert
conflict.
(23 April 2003) Although most of the members of the Security of the United Nations
opposed to the act, the United States-British alliance declared war against Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein. Now peace returns to Iraq. The most important task,
according to Kofi Anna, Secretary-General of the United Nations, is to help the Iraqi
people, “through a transparent and impartially managed political possess, form a free
and representative government of their own choice.
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source I
The following chart shows the structure, functions and powers of the UN Security
Council.
Security Council
FIVE
Permanent
Members
Decisions on substantive matters
TEN
Elected
Members
require nine votes, includeing
the concurring votes of all five
permanent members. This is the
rule of great Power unanimity,
often referred to as the “veto”
power.
The Security Council is:
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles
and purposes of the United Nations;
To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international
friction;
To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to
recommend what action should be taken;
To call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not
involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
To take military action against an aggressor.
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Source J
In 1991 Pat Robertson, a leading religious broadcaster in the United States, made
comments on the relationship between the United Nations and the United States in
respect of military force.
But what would happen if young Americans did not want to participate in a United
Nations war against one of our allies, such as Israel? The answer is simple. They
would be forced to serve under penalty of prison. What would happen if United
Nations sanctions were levied against America? Would young Americans serving in a
United Nations Army be forced to fire on their own countrymen? If not, who would
do the job?
For reference by teachers (Source J)
For information about Pat Robertson, teachers may visit the following websites:
Pat Robertson, Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia (online),
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Roberson
The official site of Pat Robertson (online),
http://www.patrobertson.com/index.asp
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History (S4-5)
Theme B: Conflicts and Cooperation in the Twentieth-Century World
Sub-theme d: Major conflicts and the quest for peace
Provenance of sources
Sources A and D: Department of History, CUHK.
Source B: History of the UN (online), http://www.un.org/aboutun/history.htm
[accessed 20 March 2004].
Source C: Charter of the United Nations – Preamble (online)
http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/index.html [accessed 20 March 2004].
Source E: The United Nations: Organization (online),
http://www.un.org/aboutun/basicfacts/unorg.htm [accessed 20 March 2004].
Source F: The UN in Brief – What the UN does for peace (online),
http://www.un.org/Overview/brief2.html [accessed 20 March 2004].
Source G: UN History – Major UN Achievements, (online) ,
http://www.un.org/aboutun/achieve.htm [accessed 23 March 2004].
Source H:
2003 年 3 月 19 日、4 月 15 至 22 日《明報》、《蘋果日報》。
The United Nations - the Secretary-General (online),
http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/index.shtml [accessed 23 March 2004].
Source I: The United Nations – Security Council: Functions and Powers (online),
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html [accessed 23 March 2004].
Source J: Edward C. Luck, Mixed Message: American Politics and International
Organizations (Washington: D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1999), p.185.
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