The illusory prestige of the United Nations
More evidence of the uselessness of the United Nations as any kind of worthwhile authority in the world has been provided this week by the election of Zimbabwe to head the key United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Zimbabwe's appointment was secured largely due to the votes of other African nations.
While Zimbabwe may consider this to be a feather in its cap at a time when the Zimbabwean state and its gangster President Robert Mugabe have been under increasing pressure. Zimbabwe's egregious human rights violations, and the wanton destruction of the Zimbabwean economy are hardly an example to the world. Inflation is running at 2000%, and the country lives under the threat of widespread famine due to the collapse of agriculture following Zimbabwe's "land reform" programme, i.e. the racist expropriation of white landowners who formerly operated one of the most productive agricultural systems in what used to be known as "the breadbasket of Africa".
So much for sustainable development. Hopefully our European Greens have been taking note.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that Serbia is to assume the chairmanship of Europe's premier human rights body, the Council of Europe. While we do not underestimate the progress that has been made in political reform in Serbia over the past few years, to describe Serbia as a beacon of human rights in Europe would be optimism bordering on delusion. The new speaker of the Serbian parliament is the hardline nationalist Tomaslav Nikolic, from the Serbian Radical Party, whose leader is currently facing war crimes charges at the Hague. The resurgence of hardline nationalism in Serbia following a period since 2000 when democratic and reformist parties have been in the ascendant, is a worrying development. There are still war crimes suspects at large who are believed to be under the protection of elements of Serbia's security forces. While we do not doubt the sincerity of many politicians in Serbia in their determination to reform the country, we do not underestimate the serious difficulties that they face. It is hardly appropriate at this time for Serbia to be handed the challenge of heading the Council of Europe.
What to these two cases tell us about the effectiveness of international institutions? It tells us that too many national governments in the world regard them as opportunities for obtaining or bestowing international prestige, will little or no regard for whatever the fundamental purposes of these organisations are supposed to be. In other words, the majority of governments in the world do not take them seriously. Consequently, we should be very wary about conceding too much authority to them.
True internationalism is based on working together with people and governments of other nations for mutual advantage, and for the common good. Our true allies in the world are those who share our values and principles. We should not organise our international affairs by allowing ourselves to be directed by institutions which are dominated by those who do not share those values, as such bodies are ineffective instruments for achieving worthwhile internationalist objectives. The prestige of the United Nations, the Council of Europe and similar institutions is based largely on illusion and essentially bogus. We should not be deceived.
While Zimbabwe may consider this to be a feather in its cap at a time when the Zimbabwean state and its gangster President Robert Mugabe have been under increasing pressure. Zimbabwe's egregious human rights violations, and the wanton destruction of the Zimbabwean economy are hardly an example to the world. Inflation is running at 2000%, and the country lives under the threat of widespread famine due to the collapse of agriculture following Zimbabwe's "land reform" programme, i.e. the racist expropriation of white landowners who formerly operated one of the most productive agricultural systems in what used to be known as "the breadbasket of Africa".
So much for sustainable development. Hopefully our European Greens have been taking note.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that Serbia is to assume the chairmanship of Europe's premier human rights body, the Council of Europe. While we do not underestimate the progress that has been made in political reform in Serbia over the past few years, to describe Serbia as a beacon of human rights in Europe would be optimism bordering on delusion. The new speaker of the Serbian parliament is the hardline nationalist Tomaslav Nikolic, from the Serbian Radical Party, whose leader is currently facing war crimes charges at the Hague. The resurgence of hardline nationalism in Serbia following a period since 2000 when democratic and reformist parties have been in the ascendant, is a worrying development. There are still war crimes suspects at large who are believed to be under the protection of elements of Serbia's security forces. While we do not doubt the sincerity of many politicians in Serbia in their determination to reform the country, we do not underestimate the serious difficulties that they face. It is hardly appropriate at this time for Serbia to be handed the challenge of heading the Council of Europe.
What to these two cases tell us about the effectiveness of international institutions? It tells us that too many national governments in the world regard them as opportunities for obtaining or bestowing international prestige, will little or no regard for whatever the fundamental purposes of these organisations are supposed to be. In other words, the majority of governments in the world do not take them seriously. Consequently, we should be very wary about conceding too much authority to them.
True internationalism is based on working together with people and governments of other nations for mutual advantage, and for the common good. Our true allies in the world are those who share our values and principles. We should not organise our international affairs by allowing ourselves to be directed by institutions which are dominated by those who do not share those values, as such bodies are ineffective instruments for achieving worthwhile internationalist objectives. The prestige of the United Nations, the Council of Europe and similar institutions is based largely on illusion and essentially bogus. We should not be deceived.
posted by Paul at 8:25 PM
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