Problems / Solutions
| 1. Meaningless Representation | ||
| UN Problem: Any country is allowed membership of the General Assembly without question and the permanent members of the Security Council hold unassailable veto powers eternally so the opportunity for the membership status of countries to relate to merit, action or willingness to support the UN has been lost. |
Influx Solution: The Influx Project allows you to see which nations care about the UN and its goals. It provides a simple, qualitative gauge of each nation’s willingness to get behind the UN, therefore ensuring that it is as effective as possible. |
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| 2. Unbalanced Financial Input | ||
| UN Problem: Having the UN built upon such an unequal financial footing breeds the perception that the UN can’t act impartially and creates division at the expense of unity. A few dominating countries can and do withhold payment to further their own interests, in particular the largest donor country- the US. |
Influx Solution: By demonstrating that significant funds can be raised without the money being tied to any particular national government and its causes we can reduce the reliance of the UN on a handful of the most powerful countries and their dominating self-interest. |
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| 3. Lost Connection | ||
| UN Problem: As contributions to the UN are paid through taxes the relationship between the UN and civil society has been severed, cutting also the public’s belief that the UN can work better and the realisation that it’s up to us all to contribute if we want a better service. |
Influx Solution: Registering people from around the world as users, pledgers & members creates a forum by which the vital willingness of people for the UN to do better is released. Putting the customer directly in touch with the provider creates a better service. |
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| 4. Inflexibility | ||
| UN Problem: The permanent members of the Security Council can’t vote to dilute their powers as the primary purpose of a country is to maximise power. Waiting for them to do so is like waiting for Turkeys to vote for Christmas. The UN’s inability to reflect the changing balance of power in the world causes it to become increasingly ineffective, inappropriate and open to a complete break down. |
Influx Solution: The Influx ratings not only allow countries of different shapes, sizes, cultures and stages of development to be fairly compared in light of UN commitment but can represent shifts in the world as it changes through time. |
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| 5. Undemocratic | ||
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UN Problem: The UN’s ability to act as an impartial referee or peace broker is hampered not only by unequal financial input but by the western bias and limited breadth of the Security Council’s permanent five members. The structures of the UN makes it hard to deny accusations of promoting the narrow interests of a few privileged members at the expense of credibility, legitimacy and democracy |
Influx Solution: The Influx Project encourages a wider source of input to the UN, reducing the imposition of the largest nations which allows it to act as a more impartial body, one fitter for resolving international disputes. |
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| 6. Obstructive Veto | ||
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UN Problem: The threat of veto does more damage than the veto itself. Initiatives to improve the effectiveness of the UN are rarely made because they typically involve concessions from at least one member of the Security Council who can refuse any change without reason. |
Influx Solution: Currently vetoes may be used by permanent members without giving reason. However, in the face of a concerted voice such as the Influx Project provides it’s possible we can demand reasons informally, but loudly and persistantly. This could provide the basis for establishing a formal challenge to the veto power that restricts the establishment of a more meaningful UN. |
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| 7. Inconsistency | ||
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UN Problem: Perceived double standards at the UN brought about by housing a Security Council whose privileged members are also the world’s largest arms dealers can give out the wrong impression. Also the undemocratic UN system is not perhaps in the best position to encourage a policy it does not practice itself. |
Influx Solution: | |
| 8. Toothlessness | ||
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UN Problem: The UN does not have its own army with which to enforce international law and is therefore at the mercy of nations which provide military assistance. The UN struggles to untangle the ideologies of itself and countries providing assisting force. |
Influx Solution: Without need for an army widespread participation in the Influx Project reduces the ability for dictators and tyrants to win conflicts as crimes and criminals are exposed to a more united audience. Expanding the audience of specific atrocities creates deeper unity among others and an environment in which abusers of the principles of the UN cannot win. One kid may not beat up another in the playground if it’s clearly at the expense of having no friends. |
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| 9. Bureaucracy Gone Mad | ||
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UN Problem: In order to move forward the UN engages in the world’s most notorious bureaucracy. When considering the greatest obstacle in many UN operations it is often itself. |
Influx Solution: The bureaucratic paperchase does have an intended purpose, to create consensus when choosing direction for the ‘UN centipede’ to move in without its legs becoming tangled. The Influx Project provides a catalyst by which people’s thoughts can be assessed and concensus reached, thereby improving the quality of agreement and the expediency with which it can act. |
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