UN--What is the role of the UN in world affairs and what is its future prospects?

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization of 191 countries, with the central role of promoting peace and security, development as well as human rights around the world. Unfortunately, the UN seems drifting towards irrelevance because millions have died in hundreds of conflicts around the world in more than 50 years since the UN's establishment, such as the conflicts in Somalia, Bosnia and Afghanistan. However, it is too early to judge if the UN has become a failure. In world affairs, the UN still plays important roles, as "The Economist" says, 'if the UN did not exist, it would have to be invented".

In the domain of keeping peace, considering the US attack on Iraq, 2003, the US cannot do its job properly. Despite the fact that France, one of the permanent members of the UN, used its veto power, US President George W. Bush commanded the attack.

English: At the UN, Colin Powell holds a model via...

George W. Bush addressed the General Assembly on S...

United Nations exhibit by OWI at Rockefeller Plaza...

In fact, George Bush has sought the UN's approval for the disarmament of Iraq, but it finally turned out that they do not need anybody's permission on their own national security and then he started the attack. This bruised the UN, making it become ineffective at the time being.

However, from another angle, the UN is very important in world affairs. We should note that there has not been a world war since the UN came into existence. It would be much worse if the world is without the UN. For example, the UN has successfully procrastinated US's attack for six months, when the weapons inspectors were sent to Iraq and the Security Council held meetings on the issue. Also, in other parts of the world, the UN can take much credit for the reason that it resisted aggression in regional conflicts in Korea and the Middle East. It helped...