The Role of the United Nations in Transforming Global Governance Essay - 10

The Role of the United Nations in Transforming Global Governance - Essay Example Drawing off of secondary research literature describing the role of the United Nations as both a peacekeeping organization and ensuring human rights as related to democracy. As a peacekeeping entity, with a focus on democratization as an outcome for maintaining global stability, the United Nations has recently come under considerable scrutiny in regards to whether the agency has failed in the task of guiding post-conflict societies, such as Kosovo, toward political stability (Pritchard, 2001: 185). Having an ideology focused around democracy as the most viable method of national governance, likely inspired by the many Westernised nations incorporating the United Nations, the UN appears to have adopted the values of democracy, in terms of promoting human rights and maintaining global peace and stability. As part of their governing authority, various resolutions are created which focus on sanctioning nations which maintain potential threats to international stability. The aforementione d is quite evident in the UN today as the United Nations has agreed to a new round of sanctions on Iran due to the threat of chemical and biological warfare stemming from the nation (Financial Times, 2008). Using their authority for global governance, the new sanctions involved attempts to stop the flow of nuclear materials into Iran and to halt the efforts of those who support underground nuclear sales (Financial Times). Additional sanctions include restricting travel for Iranians expected to be involved in nuclear efforts. The main concept of these new UN sanctions is to send the public message that the agency believes in democratization as an expected outcome of global governance, publicising efforts to halt activities of nations which provide threats to democratic living and the promotion of human rights. However, despite the best efforts of the UN, the agency is continuously under attack for failing to meet social or civil expectations.