International Organizations and Their Management: The United Nations System

Assignment # 4: Peace and Security Vs Economic Development

Monday, October 9, 2000

Patricia Fernandes Da Silva

Economic and social development without peace and security do not lead to true prosperity.  Therefore peace and security must precede economic and social development in any model in which prosperity is the goal.  While peace and security are fundamentally different concepts than economic and social development, these ideas complement and may perpetuate each other. 

The first sentence of Article 1 of the UN Charter describes the purpose of the United Nations.  It holds that the UN’s purpose (among others) is to maintain international peace and security.  In 1945 this was a more than adequate purpose.  The world was just recovering from WWII while still having clear memories of the devastation caused by of WWI.  If one continues reading the charter the concern with international security continues to be apparent.

To the contrary, the UN Charter says very little about economic and social development.  The only reference to economic development is made in Article 55 where, among other things, it states that the United Nations shall promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development.

The UN’s priorities are therefore properly aligned with the interests of prosperity.  There are innumerous examples where economic development without security has diminished prosperity.   Wealth in the absence of stability often provides impetus for war.  A good example of this contrast may be found when one compares the current situation of Angola to that of Mozambique.  Angola’s natural resources have lead to impressive economic development, which has perpetuated its civil war.  To the contrary Mozambique’s civil war ended years ago because the warring factions where not motivated by the same potential to monopolize economic prosperity.   One observes that few Angolans are rich while many are at war and fewer Mozambicans are rich while many are at peace.