UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL - UNSC 1979
Established in the aftermath of World War II to address the shortcomings of the League of Nations in preserving global peace, The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six main organs of the United Nations (UN) and holds the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Furthermore, the Council can recommend the admission of new members to the General Assembly and approves amendments to the UN Charter. The powers conferred upon the UNSC by the UN Charter include the establishment of peacekeeping operations and minimum coercive power over its nations [1].
Its functioning was significantly constrained in the subsequent decades by the Cold War, characterized by tensions between the United States, the Soviet Union, and their respective allies. Despite this, the Council managed to authorize peacekeeping missions in regions including Cyprus, West New Guinea, and the Sinai Peninsula [2]. Also, the Council comprises 15 members, of which five are permanent: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These nations, recognized as the major powers victorious in World War II, or their legitimate successor states, hold the right of veto, enabling them to block any substantive resolution, including those concerning the admission of new UN members or the appointment of the Secretary-General [1].
TOPIC A: “The security council’s role in peace amid espionage and covert operations".
In 1979, amidst the geopolitical tensions resulting from the Cold War, espionage and covert operations became essential tools of statecraft used by global superpowers such as the United States of America and the Soviet Union in their task for ideological dominance [3]. During this period, espionage was driven by an arms race and strategic dominance, with superpowers conducting intelligence operations in order to monitor each other [3][4]. Other sovereign states were affected by these operations, with coups and insurgencies destabilizing nations in different regions of the World [4].
The United Nations Security Council faced significant challenges in its role in fostering peace in such a delicate and volatile environment, as it had to work in favour of the interests of its permanent members who were deeply involved in the practice, while attempting to maintain international law. The Security Council struggled with the balance between its peacekeeping mandate and the political realities of its composition, being often constrained by the veto powers of its permanent members. Despite these limitations, the Council sought to mediate conflicts and promote transparency, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international norms amidst the pervasive climate of secrecy and covert operations [4].
TOPIC B: “The soviet-afghan conflict: a test for the security council amid cold war rivalries”.
In 1978, Afghan President Mohammad Daud Khan was overthrown during the Saur Revolution, led by leftist military forces under Nur Mohammad Taraki. The new government, composed of the Marxist-Leninist political parties, the People’s (Khalq) Party and the Banner (Parcham) Party, forged close ties with the Soviet Union but faced strong resistance from the population, who opposed the regime’s purges and social reforms. This overall discontent led to the emergence of insurgencies by tribal and urban groups known as the mujahideen, which intensified following the Soviet invasion in December 1979, when 30,000 Soviet troops took control of the country [5].
The invasion sparked international condemnation and highlighted the limitations of the United Nations Security Council in addressing acts of aggression involving a permanent member. The government led by Babrak Karmal struggled to gain popular support, while the mujahideen, armed with assistance from the United States of America and other countries, expanded their resistance. The situation evolved into a conflict that challenged the international community’s ability to effectively in one of the most prominent conflicts of the Cold War [5].
Guias do Comitê em breve.
Academic Directors:
Arthur Gabriel Pereira Espínola
Luiza Carla de Medeiros Bezerra
Assistant Directors:
Augusto Etrusco Itabaiana
Cecília Nunes de Carvalho
Evelyn Emily Vasconcelos Lopes Filipe Fernandes Campos
Maria Eduarda de Melo Silva Nogueira
Thalita Farias de Almeida Carvalho
Yuri Luis Pinheiro Morais Goes
Tutora:
Raissa Villar Rodrigues
Related media:
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MACINTYRE, Ben. The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War. New York: Crown, 2018. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/4tjxdzhx.
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The 9th Company. Direction by Fyodor Bondarchuk. Production by Sergey Melkumov and Aleksandr Rodnyansky. Russia: Art Pictures Studio, 2005. Synopsis available at: https://www.imdb.com/pt/title/tt0417397/. Film available at: https://tinyurl.com/44kj6cbv.
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THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Direction by Guy Ritchie. Production from Guy Ritchie e Lionel Wigram. United States of America: Warner Bros., 2015. Synopsis available at: https://tinyurl.com/46ed4vvr. Film available at: https://tinyurl.com/2k966hpb.
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KOJIMA, Hideo. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. [videogame]. Production from Hideo Kojima. Tokyo: Konami, 2015. Availble for: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.
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KINO. Gruppa Krovi. Produced by Yuri Aizenshpis and Alexei Vishnia. Soviet Union: Melodiya, 1988.Zvezda Po Imeni Solntse - Kino (Gruppa Krovi, 1988)
REFERENCES
[1] UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. United nations charter. Document 1 UNTS XVI. San francisco, june 26th, 1945. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text. Accessed on: Jan 6th, 2025.
[2] UNITED NATIONS. United nations peacekeeping. July 11th, 2022. Retrieved from: https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/peacekeeping_missions_factsheet_246_nov202 1_en.pdf. Acessed on: Jan 6th, 2025.
[3] SULICK, Michael J. American spies: Espionage against the United States from the Cold War to the present. Georgetown University Press, 2013. Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/272hc4t9. Accessed on: Jan 6th, 2025.
[4] LANGWALD, Katharina. The Importance of Western and Soviet Espionage in the Cold War. E-International Relations, 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.e-ir.info/2021/04/14/the-importance-of-western-and-soviet-espionage-in-the-cold -war/. Accessed on: Jan 6th, 2025.
[5] BRITANNICA. Afghan War. November 22nd, 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/event/Afghan-War. Accessed on: Jan 6th, 2025.