United Nations
The United Nations (UN), established in 1945, is an international organization with states as members.
The UN functions both as an arena for states to negotiate international rules and norms, and as an actor set to monitor these rules and engage in activities to further specific goals, such as peacekeeping operations and humanitarian relief. The UN is unique among international organizations because it represents the most encompassing and ambitious attempt to institutionalize cooperation and to regulate inter-state relations through rules. The UN consists of a General Assembly where all member states are represented, a Security Council, and a Secretariat. The broader UN system is made up of programme and funds like the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and specialized agencies like the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
At NUPI, central areas of research on the UN include:
- the evolution of norms of non-intervention
- the politics of the UN Security Council and the role of global summits
- the legitimacy and efficacy of the UN’s operational activities
News about united nations
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Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet: South Sudan
11 Mar 2021South Sudan is highly vulnerable to climate change, including flooding, droughts and, most recently, a locust infestation. Long-term climate change, like a gradual increase in temperature, and short-term changes, like increased flooding, have indirect and interlinked implications...
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How does climate change affect peace and security in South Sudan?
11 Mar 2021How does climate change affect peace and security in South Sudan?
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The hidden consequences of Covid-19
1 Mar 2021It is no secret that the consequences of the pandemic we are now in the midst of, are enormous. But did you know that covid-19 may contribute to a reversal of the global work on women's rights? Or that it may lead to a dramatic decrease in peace operations?
Publications about united nations
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Publication
: Academic article
Adaptive Peace Operations: Navigating the Complexity of Influencing Societal Change Without Causing Harm
2020Complexity theory offers a theoretical framework for analysing how social systems prevent, manage and recover from violent conflict. Insights from complexity suggest that for a peace process to become self-sustainable, resilient social institutions need to emerge from within, i.e. from the culture, history... -
Publication
: Interview
New study shows 95% South Sudanese depend on climate sensitive livelihood
The collaborative project undertaken by the Norwegian institute of international affairs, is aimed at achieving UN climate agenda. The institute has been conducting its research for close to ten years and it will complete its mandate in 2023. Lead researcher on the South Sudan fact sheet, Dr Andrew E.... -
Publication
: Academic article
UN peace operations in a multipolar order: Building peace through the rule of law and bottom-up approaches
UN peace operations need a new peacebuilding agenda that acknowledges both the transboundary nature of conflict drivers and the multipolar nature of the global order. This means casting aside the current stabilization approach, but also abandoning the pursuit of liberal peacebuilding of the unipolar...
Research projects about united nations
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Foto: Kyrre Lien/NTB Scanpix
Research project
Reference group for Norway's membership in the UN Security Council
2021 - 2022 (Ongoing)Norway has a seat in the UN Security Council in 2021 - 2022. Through this project we will facilitate meetings with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss important strategic issues.
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Photograph: AMISOM
Research project
Climate-related Peace and Security Risks (CPSR)
2020 - 2023 (Ongoing)The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) are collaborating on a climate, peace and security project that is aimed at backstopping...
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Foto: Kyrre Lien/NTB Scanpix
Research project
Defending and renewing multilateralism: Estonia and Norway in the UN Security Council
2020 - 2021 (Ongoing)This project will explore possibilities to enhance Estonian-Norwegian bilateral cooperation in promoting multilateral cooperation and a rules-based global order in the framework of the United Nations Security...