The UN plays an important role in international relations and it tries to serve the needs of all her members. The UN was set up in 1945 after the WWII to preserve world peace/ Today, there are already 189 members in the UN.
When war breaks out, the Un security council may issue a stern warning to the aggressor, organise a boycott or take military action to end the war. The UN security concil consists of 15 members, with 5 permanent members. The international court of justice also helps members to settle their disputes oeacefully. It is like a world court where countries can present their disputes.
However, the UN has proven to be late and ineffective in its peacekeeping tasks on some occasions. This is because of the limitations that the UN faces. It is true that the Un sends its "blue helmet" peacekeeping force to troubled areas. This international force comes from member contries. Consent from the UN members and the countries in the conflict must be given before the peacekeeping force can be sent. Sometimes the countries concerned to not welcome the UN's help and so when persmission is finally granted, may lives would have been lost and much destruction caused. The peacekeeping force also cannot side with any party involved in the conflict - they are only to keep them for fighting. Many members of the peacekeeping force have also died in th coarse of duty when the violence in the troubled areas escalates.
The UN provides help to countries in need such as giving food and medicine to member country on the right to vote on decidions which will affect them. To safeguard peace and stability, the UN helps member countries to settle disputes peacefully.
The UN is most successful in providing aid to members who are in trouble as she is able to harness resources such as food and medicine donated by its many members from the developed world and other organisations. However, in its safekeeping tasks, it has not been as successful as it faces limitations - the UN is not given the active political powers to intercede and overrule the countries in conflict.
