How do the United Nations and other bodies help countries cooperate on global problems?
The United Nations and international cooperation: the aims and main bodies of the UN, its work in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, the role of NATO and non-governmental organisations, and how effective international cooperation can be.
A CCEA GCSE Government and Politics guide to the United Nations and international cooperation. Covers the aims and main bodies of the UN, its work in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, the role of NATO and non-governmental organisations, and a balanced view of how effective international cooperation can be.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
You need to explain how the United Nations and other bodies help countries cooperate on global problems. CCEA examiners reward knowledge of the aims and main bodies of the UN, its work in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, the role of NATO and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and a balanced judgement on how effective international cooperation can be. This dot point follows from interdependence: because problems cross borders, countries build organisations to tackle them together.
What the United Nations is
The main bodies of the UN
Peacekeeping and humanitarian aid
Two of the UN's best-known activities are peacekeeping and humanitarian aid.
NATO and non-governmental organisations
The UN is not the only form of international cooperation.
- NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is a military alliance of countries, mainly in Europe and North America, based on collective defence: an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. It provides security cooperation between its members.
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are independent groups, not run by governments, that work on issues such as aid, development, human rights and the environment. They deliver help on the ground, often in places governments cannot easily reach, and campaign on global problems.
How effective is international cooperation?
Try this
Q1. State two aims of the United Nations. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two: maintain peace and security, develop friendly relations, promote human rights, encourage cooperation.
Q2. What is the difference between peacekeeping and humanitarian aid? [2 marks]
- Cue. Peacekeeping uses international forces to keep or build peace; humanitarian aid provides emergency help to people in need.
Q3. What is NATO? [2 marks]
- Cue. A military alliance based on collective defence: an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA Unit 2 (style)6 marksDescribe the aims and main work of the United Nations.Show worked answer →
A knowledge question testing AO1. Cover aims and work.
Aims: the UN was founded after the Second World War to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations between nations, promote human rights, and encourage cooperation on economic, social and humanitarian problems.
Main bodies: the General Assembly, where all member states meet and debate; the Security Council, which deals with peace and security and can authorise action; and agencies that work on health, children, refugees and development.
Work: the UN carries out peacekeeping, provides humanitarian aid in disasters and conflicts, and runs programmes on health, poverty and human rights.
A top answer names the aims, the General Assembly and Security Council, and the peacekeeping and humanitarian work.
CCEA Unit 2 (style)10 marksExplain how effective international cooperation is in tackling global problems.Show worked answer →
An explanation question testing AO1 and AO2. Give a balanced judgement.
What works: the UN and other bodies provide peacekeeping, deliver humanitarian aid, coordinate responses to disease and disasters, and give nations a forum to resolve disputes peacefully; NATO provides collective defence and NGOs deliver aid on the ground.
Limits: cooperation depends on member states agreeing; powerful states can block action (for example through the Security Council veto); organisations may lack resources or the power to enforce decisions; and national interests can get in the way.
Judgement: a strong answer argues that international cooperation achieves a great deal but is limited by the willingness and interests of states. A measured, even-handed conclusion reaches the top band.
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Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCSE Government and Politics specification — CCEA (2017)