The need for a balance of power within the United Nations for justice and peace

By Ananda Amarawansa

After World War II, during the period under the auspices of the United Nations, there were various conflicts in the world, but they did not escalate into wars that brought about global pressures. The Cold War, which was a period of ideological and economical standoff defining the politics between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II from 1947 to 1991, was not a direct war, but rather a conflict of ideas between Western countries and communist countries. It was also a race of nuclear arms conflict.

The "domino" theory at the time was that if one country became communist, the surrounding countries would also be engulfed by that ideology. This led to the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, which was a major battleground in the Cold War. The Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975 was similar. During the Cold War, there was a balance of power, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, this ideology began to dissolve. At the same time, Russia became a normal country.

The Israeli-Palestinian War that has been going on since 1948, the multinational conflict over the Suez Canal in 1956, the Soviet military operation in Afghanistan between 1979-1989, the Iran-Iraq War between 1980-1988, the Gulf War between 1990-1991, the US-led coup in Iraq between 2003-2011, and the Ukraine war that has been going on since 2014, were mostly isolated conflicts, while countries such as Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were also experiencing internal civil wars. These did not have much impact on the general affairs of the world. The intervention of the United Nations to suppress these was also minimal. Although it was a contentious battle between the powers, the Cold War did not result in major military conflicts and the balance of power between them was a major reason for this. However, even though the Cold War is over, with its shadows, some powers are still entering into destructive and oppressive wars, claiming that nuclear arms are threat to them.

Military analysts point out that the war with Iran in the Middle East is pushing the United States into a different direction and is threatening to cause other nations to suffer, especially since the world's most powerful country is involved. This can be seen as a turning point that requires the intervention of the United Nations, as nations hope, and measures should be taken to prevent such conflicts in the future.

The United Nations

The United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945, with an initial membership of 51 countries, based on the need for a mechanism to prevent a recurrence of the Second World War. The five major powers represented in this group, China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, had veto power over important decisions regarding all nations, and that remains unchanged. But it is doubtful whether they are currently acting on behalf of all nations.

The main objective of this organization's vision has always been to create world peace, security, and cooperation without discrimination. It has recognized the recognition and protection of human rights and the sovereignty of states, the cooperation to achieve sustainable development of countries, the promotion of international law to a high level and the administration of justice to protect the rights of countries, and the prevention of possible conflicts between countries.

Although the membership of this organization has increased to 193 over the past 80 years, it is time to take a deep look at whether the necessary changes have taken place within the organization and whether those countries have worked together to achieve its goals.

Many of the countries that have recently joined the organization are not economically and socially developed countries, and they need to build their economies and social conditions in a world of peace, with the assistance of developed countries. The United Nations should be commended for the steps it has taken during this period to formulate and implement targeted programs in various sectors to promote sustainable development in member states through various funds and institutions. But it is questionable whether it has fulfilled its potential role, based on international law or on legitimate grounds, in working on issues such as protecting the human rights and sovereignty of individual countries, sharing scarce resources for economic activities that are taking place in globalization, and reaching peaceful agreements for free trade.

Unbalanced power

In such circumstances, unresolved conflicts between nations have arisen today. Although such conflicts that have occurred from time to time over the past 8 decades have been resolved, such conflicts are escalating into war situations today, especially due to the inability of the veto powers within the organization to take balanced decisions or to force control of the situation when they are involved. This is a challenge for the United Nations. It is a tragedy that it has had to succumb to countries or alliances with great military power. This is further compounded by the fact that they have the ability to contribute more to the funds. Power cannot allow one or a few countries to achieve ulteriormotives in the name of world peace and security. Decisions in such cases should be made based on international law, conventions and agreements, or justice. The United Nations should have the power to prevent such conflicts that affect the world. If there is a balance of power within it, it will get this s trength. If not, there should be a balanced alternative force that can, depending on the circumstances, and with the blessing of the organization, show a voice and power for justice externally in the world. Then no country belonging to any side will be interested in taking the conflict to a military situation.

Sovereignty

Other countries are obliged to recognize the right of any nation to act independently and sovereignly within its land, water and airspace, which it has lawfully acquired. No other country can violate them by military or force, without justification, or destroy their resources. Doing so would be a cause for conflict or the creation of a state of war. It is the duty of the United Nations to ensure that such a situation does not arise in any way, and it is the organizational responsibility to have conventions and instruments and tools in place to deal with such things.

Regional agreement

World history bears witness to the fact that in the absence of a balance of power organization in the world, powerful countries can invade and exploit other countries. Accordingly, the formation of alliances through international agreements as well as regional agreements is a necessity of the time for the balance of power. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has shown the value of forming an alliance against a country only if it adamantly launches a military attack on a neighboring country without justifiable reason. At this time, although the US had sought its intervention against Iran, they rejected it because it did not agree with the alliance's policies and they considered that the alliance's power, which was being used improperly, was not supreme.

It is its discipline. With this guidance , the possibility of establishing such an alliance in the "Asia region" is emerging in the world order. If an enemy country is powerful, a country will be attacked because of its power, regardless of justice. If that country has alliance strength, the enemy country will think twice about it. Supporting an unjust first attack should not be the policy of the proposed organization. If someone uses force unjustly, it can be justified to use more force for the sake of peace. In such cases, peacekeeping forces are deployed with this in mind.

Asia region

Although the number of members of the United Nations has nearly quadrupled since its inception, the number of powerful countries holding veto power has not increased. The population of the nations represented in it has also more than quadrupled. The world population was 2 billion at the time of World War II, but today it is more than 8 billion. The three largest member states representing Asia in the United Nations are Russia, China, and India. Among the 30 largest countries in the world, Russia ranks first, China ranks fifth, and India ranks eighth. Together, these three countries account for 32% of that land area. These three countries also account for 32% of the world's population of 8 billion today. However, the United States, which has become the world's superpower, has the largest gross domestic product in the world. Its gross domestic product is more than $30 trillion. Similarly, in Asia, Russia, China, and India, when taken together, their combined gross domestic product is also more than $26 trillion. But in 2025, when the economic growth rate in the United States was 2%, it was 4.8% in China and 6.6 in India. But at present, the United States is the world's economic and military power. Among these countries, India does not have veto power in the United Nations. That is a fact that needs to be considered.

Balance of power and peace

Even though world conditions and circumstances have changed after 80 years, the United Nations has not yet considered a balance of power for peace. That is why it has been unable to act with just and forceful mechanism when necessary. The powers that be do not seem to be obeying the United Nations or its rules and regulations today. The world has felt the need to form a unified treaty organization, with Russia, China, and India as the main Asian countries, for the necessary balance of world and organizational power if world peace is to become a reality. There is a high possibility that other Asian countries will join this organization while preserving the identity of the Non-Aligned Nations. At the same time, the proposal to make the Indian Ocean a zone of peace, a progressive proposal once brought to the United Nations by Sri Lanka, should be re-enacted. In addition, if this program aims to make Sri Lanka an island of peace and to expand the veto power of the United Nations by providing two new seats with one more representation for India and all other nations, it will undoubtedly be a great help to future world peace and development. The attention of the powers of Asia should be drawn to this.

Religious leaders have also condemned the current war situation in the Middle East. In that vein, we should not be afraid to speak out for justice and true peace. A war that kills innocent people and destroys property and cultures in order to spread its power to neighboring countries and achieve political and economic goals under the guise of defeating a nuclear power cannot be justified, So, it is the time for not only religious leaders but all countries that desire peace and justice to speak out and condemn it.
It is timely for the Sri Lankan government, together with India, to take steps for this within the United Nations.

(The writer is a Financial and Economic Analyst and Chartered Accountant)