The Role of the United Nations in Conflict Management During the Cold War Era - Research Proposal Example

 Table of Contents Chapter One 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Background of the study 3 1.3 Research aim 4 1.4 Research objectives 4 1.5 Research questions 4 1.6 Research hypotheses 4 1.7 Scope of the study 5 1.8 Possible limitations of the study 5 Chapter Two: Literature review 5 2.1 The United Nation’s conflict management 5 Chapter 3 7 3.1 Research methodology 7 References 8 Chapter One 1.1 Introduction In the World’s history, there have been three documented major wars that have occurred, which pitted various countries against each other, and they were grouped along the parameters of region, political ideologies and even economic interests. The first major war, which is also known as the ‘First World War’ or the ‘Great War’ occurred between the periods of 28th July, 1914 to 11th November, 1918. The First World War was against two opposing alliance namely the Russian Empire, France, the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom versus the Austria-Hungary and the central powers of Germany. As the war progressed, it became reorganized and other countries joined resulting to a military that was made up of seventy million personnel who were drawn from different warring countries. Stevenson (2004) noted that this war was referred to as the first deadliest war in history and it resulted to the death of 9 million people. The second major World War to have occurred in the World’s history is the Second World War that took place between the periods of 1939 to 1945, and it involved two opposing alliances namely the Axis and the Allies, which comprised of over thirty different countries. This Second World War ended with the highest number of fatalities who were placed in the range of fifty to eighty-five million people and it was caused by more or less the same factors that also caused the Second World War (Rees, 2008). McMahon (2003) wrote that after the Second World War, there was great tension primarily between the Soviet Union and the United States, which lasted between the periods of 1947 to 1991. This war was characterized by high levels of tension between the two conflicting sides and there was also mutual suspicion among the two enemies. According to Friedman (2007), the United States, and the Soviet Union, which at that time were regarded as the World’s superpowers were engaged in the Cold War mainly because of economic and political difference between the two countries, as the US was pro-democracy while the Soviet Union was pro-communism. This present research study will focus on the Cold War, which is referred to as “cold” because of the fact that there were no incidences of large scale fighting. In particular, this research study will seek to investigate the role that the United Nations played in managing the conflict that was associated with the Cold War considering that it was simply formed after the Second World War on 24th October 1945 to foster international co-operation. 1.2 Background of the study The United Nations was formed as a replacement of the League of Nations, which was structured similarly as the United Nations with more or less the same objective but it had proven to ineffective in fostering international co-operation more so because of the fact that it failed to end the Second World War as it was expected. Schlesinger (2003) wrote that 53 nations joined a pact to form the United Nations, which so far has 193 member states with its main headquarters located at Manhattan, New York in the United States. During its formation, the main objective of forming the organisation was so that it could put in place various effective measures that could possibly prevent another conflict that was similar to the previous World Wars. However, so far Schlesinger (2003) noted that the scope of the United Nations has expanded to include the maintenance of security and peace across the World, promotion of social and economic development across the World, promoting the adherence of human rights, conservation of the environment and provision of humanitarian aid in places of armed conflict, natural disaster, and famine. Under its role in promoting international co-operation, and maintenance of World’s peace and security, the United Nations is from time to time required to implement conflict management practices in order to avoid scenarios of wars that could derail social and economic development, and even create conditions for the violation of human rights. For example, in the present ongoing Syrian crisis, the UN has initiated various mechanisms for conflict management with the objective of ending the crisis but so far it has not fully succeed in this, as the civil war is still raging. 1.3 Research aim The main aim of this study is to investigate the role that the United Nations played in terms of conflict management during the cold war. 1.4 Research objectives a) To establish the role of the UN in war situations b) To establish the practices of conflict management in the UN c) To establish the role and effectiveness of the UN in ending the conflict during the cold war era 1.5 Research questions a) What are the actual roles that the UN plays in situations of war or conflict? b) What specific practices of conflict management does the UN normally apply? c) What role did the UN play in managing the conflict that arose during the cold war era? d) Was the UN effective in managing the conflict that arose during the cold war era? 1.6 Research hypotheses a) The UN was largely insignificant during the Cold War b) The UN is marred with partisan issues that hinder it from coming out as a neutral party and been able to end conflicts c) The UN lacks necessary infrastructure and policies that can enable them to come in between two warring parties 1.7 Scope of the study The research study proposes to investigate the role that the UN played during the Cold War and established whether it lived to its actual mandate of ending the conflict that was associated with the war. 1.8 Possible limitations of the study The main limitation of the study will arise from the fact that it is largely focused on a historical perspective, which means there are possibilities that the researcher might fail to gain access to certain crucial information. Secondly, the researcher will be limited on the basis that it will be very hard to access people who might have witnessed the Cold War especially during the period of 1940s to 1950s. Chapter Two: Literature review 2.1 The United Nation’s conflict management In the writings by Diehl et al. (1996), he stated that the United Nation’s conflict management is normally viewed from the realist and liberal perspectives. Under the liberal perspective, it is believed that the State will opt to combine all of its resources in order to efficiently and effectively end violence or conflict. This is because the liberals perceive conflict as a global problem. The liberalist theory is of the view that the best way to manage a conflict situation is to shift the power balance to the organization, which will leave the aggressor with no option, but to accept a compromise and bring an end to the dispute. The liberals believe that if a State engages in violent act it means that there are structural arrangements in place, which promote violence and therefore, if there is a right systematic structure, the UN will succeed in conflict resolution since it is not the interest of the party for the violence to escalate. However, if the structure of the international system tends to create an environment for violence then the UN might only have little success in conflict resolution (Goertz and Diehl, 1995). On the part of the realists, Brecher and Wilkenfeld (2000) argued that on a state-centered world-view, which demeans any hope for a body such as the UN to succeed in conflict management. Realists are of the view that the evil in the society is caused by lust of power by States and men, and therefore, since the States will always seek to gain their own interest, they will do anything at their disposal to achieve their goals. Goertz and Diehl (1995) further added that the realists theory suggest that stability within the international system is only attainable if there is a power balance as a result of different States seeking for their own interest. In this regard, the realists expects that an organisation such as the UN will gain large membership simply because different States are trying to widen their standing in global matters. Under the realist perspective, the UN is posed to make an insignificant success in conflict resolution especially if individual States feels as if it will be in the best interest of the UN if they choose to work with them. From the case examples, such as the Syrian crisis and even the fact that the Cold War lasted for 44 years it means that the UN is not fully effective in conflict resolution. Chapter 3 3.1 Research methodology The project will incorporate primary research methods as well as secondary research methods. Under secondary research methods, the research will utilize secondary sources such as scholarly books, journals, and credible internet sites that highlight on the role the UN played during the Cold War era. Under the primary research methods, the researcher will use questionnaire as research tools to gather primary data from people who have direct knowledge on the current issues of conflict management and role of UN in resolving wars. Among the suitable participants in the primary research process, include practitioners of conflict resolution and especially those who work for the UN. In this regard, the researcher will strive to issue questionnaires to staff working at the UN offices, who directly deal with conflict resolution. The secondary data will be presented in the second chapter of the dissertation, while the primary data will be discussed and analyzed in the fourth chapter whilst integrating findings from the secondary research that was carried out. On the other hand, the first chapter will cover the introductory part of the study, the third chapter will elaborate on the research methodology that was applied to gather data for this study, and the fifth chapter will spell out a conclusion for the research study as well as recommendation on the topic. References Brecher, M. and Wilkenfeld, J. (2000). A Study of Crisis. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. Diehl, P., Reifschneider, J. and Hensel, P. (1996). United Nations Intervention and Recurring Conflict. International Organization 50(4): 683-700. Friedman, N. (2007). The Fifty-Year War: Conflict and Strategy in the Cold War. Naval Institute Press. Goertz, G. and P. Diehl (1995). The Initiation and Termination of Enduring Rivalries: The Impact of Political Shocks. American Journal of Political Science 39(1): 30-52. McMahon, R. (2003). The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press Schlesinger, S. (2003). Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Stevenson, D. (2004), Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy. New York: Basic Books Rees, L. (2008). World War II Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West. London: BBC Books. Wayman, F. (2000). Rivalries: Recurrent Disputes and Explaining War. Lanham MD: Rowmann and Littlefield Publisher, Inc. Read More