World Organisations Explained: UN, BRICS & AUKUS,G20 | Geopolitics for Beginners

Key Takeaways

• The United Nations was founded in 1945 to prevent another world war, with 193 member states, but its Security Council's veto power often paralyzes action on major global issues.
• The UN provides a framework for international law, a platform for all nations to voice concerns, and coordinates global responses to shared challenges like pandemics and climate change.
• India, a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping, seeks a permanent seat on the Security Council but faces consistent blocking, highlighting the UN's structural limitations.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO), established in 1995, sets rules for international trade, provides a forum for negotiations, and settles disputes, contributing to global trade expansion.
• The WTO operates on the Most Favored Nation principle, ensuring trade advantages are shared among all members, which prevents a chaotic 'free-for-all' in global commerce.
• The WTO is currently under stress due to trade wars and the US blocking appointments to its dispute settlement body, challenging its effectiveness.
• As a developing nation, India navigates the WTO by seeking policy space to protect its domestic industries, subsidize farmers, and prioritize food security, leading to complex disputes.
• The G4 nations (India, Japan, Germany, Brazil) collectively advocate for UN Security Council reform and expansion, aiming to better reflect the 21st-century geopolitical landscape.