Disunited Nations

The League of Nations was established after the first world war to enforce the agreements reached following the cessation of hostilities with Germany, while also creating a forum to cooperatively maintain a new global order. The League of Nations subsequently transformed into the United Nations at the end of the second world war. Its mission was still the same but its intention was more focused on maintaining and reinforcing a power dynamic that ensured that the super powers maintained control over global affairs. 

The setup of the United Nations mostly serves the interests of the permanent members. The basic intention is that if the super powers are kept happy then they would be less likely to go to war with each other culminating in another world war. However, this does not stop such super powers attacking other countries, or supporting internal conflicts or wars between other countries. In actual fact, permanent members have a veto that ultimately thwarts united action and silences smaller nations with concerns about their sovereignty. So it is clear that the United Nations has no ability to prevent war where a super power wishes it. It is also not able to guarantee global peace unless member countries choose to exercise restraint. 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not the first time a superpower or a superpower backed nation has unilaterally attacked another country. The Soviet Union attempted to invade Afghanistan, the U.K. waged a military campaign in the Falklands, the USA has attacked Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel bombed Iran, Saudi Arabia attacked Yemen, and Russia has invaded territory in Georgia and Crimea. While there may not have been universal support for all these action the United Nations was helpless to prevent or stop them. 

There is no doubt that the United Nations and its agencies do a lot of good work across the globe. Work which is underpinning well-being and development in many countries. However, it is clear that certain permanent  members have chosen to either ignore or circumvent the charter in order to attack other countries. As an organisation that was setup to stop wars and maintain peace its workings haven’t proven effective at doing this. 

Starvation in Africa: The New Face of Imperialism

Image courtesy: Project Authenticity

The United Nations has indicated that there are almost 10 million people at risk of starvation in Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia. In a continent that is well provided for in resources and potential this is calamitous state of events in the 21st century. It would come as no surprise that all these African countries are involved in some form of religious, tribal or political conflict. It has become a political trend in Africa for the welfare of millions of people to be put in jeopardy by warring factions pursuing selfish personal interests.

The three countries highlighted represent just a few of the many countries in Africa where poverty and starvation are rife due to political mismanagement and corruption. Economic development has all but petered out throughout the continent due to pillaging by political leaders with the assistance of overseas governments and multinational corporations. Even though each new government makes very earnest pledges to tackle corruption its endemic nature means that the very people promising to clean up the system are busy lining their own pockets covertly.  Any efforts to come to grips with corruption are either halfhearted or futile.

The quandary Africa finds itself in now us that a lot of people are focusing on historic ravages of colonialism and imperialism as the root of modern day travails. However, not enough of a spotlight is being shone on the modern day graft and racketeering that has been given a veneer of respectability. A lot of successful business have benefited from looted public funds or unfair favourable business terms allowed them by cronies in government. As a result very many African governments offer very little in terms of social welfare or affordable public services. Until public finances are properly focused on improving living conditions of the citizenry and not just funding governance structures and enriching private individuals and corporations Africans will continue to see increasing hunger and starvation, even in its so called emerging economies.