The role of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security

Abstract

The United Nations was created with the purpose of maintaining peace and international security to replace the extinct League of Nations. Within its organizational structure, the Security Council was responsible for the direction and improvement of the system of collective security. During the Cold War the role of the Security Council was compromised due to the veto policy used by the United States and the Soviet Union in the dispute for primacy in the international system. Peacekeeping operations have emerged in this context, as mechanisms to promote international peace and security in the face of Council stoppage. This article aims to analyze the use of the UN in international politics, whether in regard to the institutionalization of norms both in regard to international security. To do so it was based on a literature of authors such as Claude, Mingst, Karn, Bellamy, William, Buzan, Barnett, Finnemore, Thakur, Schnabel, among others. In order to complement the study, research was performed using the UN Charter and reports “An Agenda for Peace” and “Bahimi”. The main conclusion is that, with the end of bipolarity, the role of the UN has become more effective due to reduced veto policy, which allowed the decision-making process of the Security Council was stimulated and complex peace operations including humanitarian crises in intra -state conflicts have arisen.