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: Somalia
3 Feb 2021Somalia is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather. Without anticipatory preventive approaches, these factors are likely to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and reduce the people’s livelihood options, which in turn may have negative impacts...
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The impact of climate change on peace and security in Somalia
4 Feb 2021A new collaborative NUPI-SIPRI project examines how climate change affect peace and security in states and regions on the UN Security Council's agenda. On 4 February, the project launched its first fact sheet, looking into Somalia.
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Framing Peace Operations in a Changing Global Landscape
7 Dec 2020Today is the first day of this year’s Virtual Challenges Annual Forum VCAF20, which runs from 7 to 11 December 2020, with the overarching theme “Framing Peace Operations in a Changing Global Landscape”. The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) is co-hosting...
Publications about united nations
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Publication : Popular scientific article
Digitale trusler blir kinkig for Norge i Sikkerhetsrådet
(Op-ed in Norwegian): De fleste land rangerer trusler via det digitale rom som en av de største utfordringene for det 21. århundret. På tross av dette har tematikken knapt vært nevnt i FNs sikkerhetsråd. Hva kommer det av? Og kan Norge gjøre noe med det? spør Niels Nagelhus Schia og Erik Kursetgjerde... -
Publication : Report
Performance of Peace Operations
How should we assess and improve the performance of peace operations? This is the topic of the third dialogue strand of VCAF20. UN peace operations are under growing pressure to increase performance and enhance mandate delivery. This background paper assesses recent research into the effectiveness and... -
Publication : Report
Intergovernmental checkmate on cyber? Processes on cyberspace in the United Nations
2020Cyberspace is an increasingly controversial field on the international agenda. Despite the fact that processes on the thematic have been going on in the UN since 1998, a more significant international agreement is needed on what basic principles should apply in cyberspace. Small states have the opportunity...
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...