UN New York 15.08.2008 - 22.08.2008
Motivation
August 2008: We’re only three months apart from the presidential election and with high probability from a new chapter in US foreign policy. Only vague predictions can be made as to who might lead the superpower for the next four years; consequences for world politics however can already be estimated.
During our week in New York we are going observe what’s going in the hallways of the UN headquarters. Experts on the issue will shed their insights with us and give us an impression as to what impact the outcome of the presidential elections might have on the future functioning of the UN, especially when keeping in mind that the US is by far the largest financial contributor to the UN. John Bolton, former US ambassador to the UN, once stated that “There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world and that is the United States when it suits our interest and we can get others to go along.”
At the same time, we’ll try to get to the bottom of this organization and its actions: Is the UN still the appropriate institution to prevent wars or has it failed? Has it become a tool for powerful states to legitimize interventions by force under the name of peace and stability? How is it possible that the P5 find themselves so often as judges of their own cases?
Questions over questions! Questions which our generation has to find answers to today in order to not commit the same mistakes tomorrow!
And what kind of reforms must the UN undergo in order to become more efficient in the future?
Testimonial
«IFIL gave me the unique opportunity to gain valuable leadership and experience by organizing a study trip to the United Nations Headquarters in New York. That is one reason why I highly recommend to join IFIL to all of you who have particular interests you are eager to share with others.»Christoph Spicher,