1. Conservative Approach: The conservative view considers the existing Charter "practically untouchable" and believes in improving "collective security" as defined in Chapter VII. Key positions include: US Position: Prioritizes its own interests, supports better management and the creation of an Inspector General, favours enlarging the Security Council (to include Germany and Japan, mainly for financing peace-keeping), and associates the UN with regional organizations like NATO for peace enforcement. The US remains reluctant to allow full application of Chapter VII and views collective security restrictively.
2. Secretary-General's Position (Boutros Ghali): Advocated for the full implementation of 'collective security' as envisaged in 1945, including the use of the Military Staff Committee (Article 47) and the conclusion of special agreements (Article 43) for providing armed forces. He also proposed 'peace enforcement units' under the command of the Secretary-General and wider use of 'preventive diplomacy'. The report candidly recognized the Security Council's incapacity to deal with threats from a major power.
Radical Approach: The radical approach criticizes the principles of the present system and proposes an overhaul. It reflects increasing doubts about the value of the Charter's collective security system, especially in intra-State conflicts. Radical proposals include:
* Establishing an Economic Security Council
* Modifying the Charter with less reluctance.
* Reforming the IMF and World Bank.
* Developing a new global security system (e.g., regional models like CSCE/CSCM).
* The creation of a consultative parliamentary assembly at the world level.
Future Outlook: The author asserts that no major or minor reform has any chance of being implemented now, primarily because the Charter's amendment procedures (requiring a two-thirds majority including all five permanent Security Council members) preclude agreement. However, he concludes that the continuing deterioration of the global situation, driven by economic integration, rising inequality, and intra-State conflicts, will inevitably lead the political establishment to define a new global institutional structure. This future debate will become highly political, opposing the defence of democracy and human rights against nationalism and fascism. (408 words)
(Summary of the article titled “The UN as an organisation. A critique of its functioning” by Maurice Bertrand, published in 6 EJIL (1995) pp-349-359)
Radical Approach UN Reform Proposals
The question asks about the specific proposals related to the Bretton Woods institutions under the Radical Approach to UN reform, as described in the provided text.
Understanding the Radical Approach
The document outlines two main categories for UN reform: conservative and radical. The Radical Approach is characterized by a fundamental critique of the existing UN system and proposes significant overhauls. It questions the value of the current collective security system, especially concerning intra-State conflicts.
Key Radical Reform Proposals
According to the text, the Radical Approach includes several key proposals:
- Establishing an Economic Security Council.
- Modifying the UN Charter with less hesitation.
- Reforming the IMF and World Bank.
- Developing new global security frameworks, such as regional models.
- Creating a global parliamentary assembly.
Focus on Bretton Woods Institutions
The question specifically focuses on suggestions concerning global economic governance and the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank). The text explicitly mentions two related points under the Radical Approach:
- The establishment of an Economic Security Council.
- The reform of the IMF and World Bank.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine how the given options align with these points:
- Option 1: Mentions "Article 42" (associated with the conservative approach) and "reduction of social inequality," which is not explicitly listed as a direct proposal for Bretton Woods reform in the radical section.
- Option 2: Suggests "The creation of an Economic Security Council" and "the replacement of the IMF with a Central World Bank." The text directly supports the creation of an Economic Security Council and mentions reforming the IMF and World Bank. The specific idea of replacing the IMF with a Central World Bank can be seen as a significant reform measure within the broader scope of "reforming the IMF."
- Option 3: Proposes "international taxation" and "institutionalization of G7 summit meetings." These are not directly mentioned in the summary's description of the Radical Approach's economic proposals.
- Option 4: Includes "transfer of significant resources from rich to poor countries" and "the reform of the World Bank's structure." While "reform of the World Bank's structure" aligns with the text, the "transfer of significant resources" is not explicitly stated as a core radical proposal in this summary.
Conclusion on Radical Proposals
Based on the text, the Radical Approach explicitly calls for the establishment of an Economic Security Council and the reform of the IMF and World Bank. Option 2 most closely reflects these specific elements mentioned in the summary concerning economic governance reforms.
Similar Questions
- In formulating Principle VI (a), the ILC clarified the term "waging of a war of aggression" because:
- The author attributes the growing public frustration with the UN primarily to which pair of continuous failures?
- A primary point of divergence between the US Conservative position and the Secretary-General's Conservative position on security matters, according to the summary is:
- According to the critique's conclusion, the immediate, insurmountable barrier preventing the implementation of any reform, major or minor, is:
- The Secretary-General's 'Agenda for Peace' proposed a specific military capability intended to address the gap between traditional peace-keeping and full military action. This proposed unit was explicitly characterized by the summary as being:
- From the passage it is evident that:
- Which of the statements is true?
- Which of the following can be inferred as the most significant characteristic of prehistoric humans, as per the passage?
- Which of the following best explains why humans did not initially stand out among other organisms?
- According to the passage, what determines whether two animals belong to the same species?
Important Questions from Non Grammar
- In formulating Principle VI (a), the ILC clarified the term "waging of a war of aggression" because:
- The author attributes the growing public frustration with the UN primarily to which pair of continuous failures?
- A primary point of divergence between the US Conservative position and the Secretary-General's Conservative position on security matters, according to the summary is:
- According to the critique's conclusion, the immediate, insurmountable barrier preventing the implementation of any reform, major or minor, is:
- The Secretary-General's 'Agenda for Peace' proposed a specific military capability intended to address the gap between traditional peace-keeping and full military action. This proposed unit was explicitly characterized by the summary as being:
