Key Points

International organisations are created to help countries cooperate on matters of war and peace and to address global challenges like disease and climate change that no single nation can solve alone.

The United Nations (UN) was founded on October 24, 1945, as a successor to the League of Nations, with the primary objective of preventing international conflict and facilitating cooperation among states.

The UN Security Council has five permanent members (P5) with veto power: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. There are also ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

The veto is a negative vote held by the five permanent members of the Security Council. A single veto from any of these members can stall a resolution, even if all other members vote in favor.

After the Cold War, demands for UN reform grew because its structure, especially the Security Council, no longer reflected contemporary political realities, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of new powers.

The UN faces two basic kinds of reform: reform of its structures and processes, like expanding the Security Council, and a review of the issues within its jurisdiction, such as prioritizing peace and security or development.

Proposed criteria for new permanent Security Council members include being a major economic and military power, a substantial contributor to the UN budget, a populous nation, and respecting democracy and human rights.

India seeks a permanent seat in the Security Council, arguing its case based on being the world's most populous country, its largest democracy, its growing economy, and its long history of contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.

In a unipolar world dominated by the United States, the UN acts as a forum for discussion and negotiation, allowing other countries to modify US policies, but it cannot easily check US military and economic power.

The UN system includes many specialized agencies dealing with social and economic issues, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF (Children's Fund), and UNESCO (Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation).

The IMF is an international organisation that oversees global financial institutions and regulations. Voting rights are not equal; the G-7 countries hold a significant share of the votes.

Created in 1944, the World Bank focuses on developing countries, providing loans and grants for human development, infrastructure, and governance. It is often criticized for imposing conditions on poorer nations.

The WTO was established in 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT). It sets the rules for global trade, but major economic powers often influence its decisions.

Established in 1957, the IAEA promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and seeks to prevent its use for military purposes by regularly inspecting nuclear facilities worldwide.

Human Rights Watch is a prominent international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, drawing global media attention to abuses.