Community of Nations: Difference between revisions
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== Criticism == | == Criticism == | ||
From its earliest days, the CN has been criticized on a number of grounds. One perennial point of contention is its voluntary funding system, where member states are under no formal obligation to fund the ongoing work of the organization. This often results in serious budget shortfalls that lead to incomplete or cancelled programs, which particularly affects the poorest states which rely on the CN to provide basic humanitarian and security services. For the 2019–2020 budget period the CN had a €120 million operating deficit, the worst in nearly a decade, and the Secretary-General was forced to furlough staff and defer maintenance on buildings at headquarters. Reform proposals have been floated dozens of times to move to a mandatory assessment system that would stabilize the budget, but so far the Security | From its earliest days, the CN has been criticized on a number of grounds. One perennial point of contention is its voluntary funding system, where member states are under no formal obligation to fund the ongoing work of the organization. This often results in serious budget shortfalls that lead to incomplete or cancelled programs, which particularly affects the poorest states which rely on the CN to provide basic humanitarian and security services. For the 2019–2020 budget period the CN had a €120 million operating deficit, the worst in nearly a decade, and the Secretary-General was forced to furlough staff and defer maintenance on buildings at headquarters. Reform proposals have been floated dozens of times to move to a mandatory assessment system that would stabilize the budget, but so far the Security Committee (which has a veto on matters affecting the Charter) has not allowed any proposed budget amendment to advance. | ||
The nature and organization of the Security Committee have also been roundly criticized by states that feel the SC is an undemocratic and moribund institution. [[Telchìde Gliò]], Permanent Representative of [[Montecara]] to the CN, has stated that the Security Committee's permanent membership "effectively freezes the power balance of international relations at an arbitrary point in the past" and that the lack of reform "absolutely guarantees that the committee will gradually become less and less representative of reality and therefore less respected when it is needed most." Reform proposals have included the abolition of permanent seats, the expansion of permanent seats to 10, 15, or 20 members, the expansion of non-permanent seats, and even the total abolition of the committee, with its duties taken up by the International Assembly. So far, no reform has been able to pass the committee itself. | The nature and organization of the Security Committee have also been roundly criticized by states that feel the SC is an undemocratic and moribund institution. [[Telchìde Gliò]], Permanent Representative of [[Montecara]] to the CN, has stated that the Security Committee's permanent membership "effectively freezes the power balance of international relations at an arbitrary point in the past" and that the lack of reform "absolutely guarantees that the committee will gradually become less and less representative of reality and therefore less respected when it is needed most." Reform proposals have included the abolition of permanent seats, the expansion of permanent seats to 10, 15, or 20 members, the expansion of non-permanent seats, and even the total abolition of the committee, with its duties taken up by the International Assembly. So far, no reform has been able to pass the committee itself. | ||
Revision as of 23:32, 9 November 2020
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 Emblem
| |
| Map showing the members of the Community of Nations Map showing the members of the Community of Nations | |
| Headquarters | Kesselbourg City (international territory) |
| Official languages | |
| Type | Intergovernmental organization |
| Membership | 74 member states 3 observer states |
| Leaders | |
 Ekaterine Beruchashvili | |
 Máirtín Ó Conaill | |
 Tapatoru Pataha | |
| Establishment | |
• Charter signed | 12 February 1935 |
• Charter entered into force | 12 May 1935 |
The Community of Nations (abbreviated as CN) is an international organisation established in the wake of the Great War to foster intergovernmental cooperation and prevent another major war. The headquarters of the Community is in Kesselbourg City, and enjoys a status as international territory. The organisation is financed by voluntary contributions by its member states, and its objectives include ensuring international peace and security, as well as promoting human rights and social development, protecting the environment, and organising international aid.
History
The Community of Nations was established in Kesselbourg City, Kesselbourg shortly after the Great War, for the purposes of organising and harmonising the international community, in particular in the hopes of mitigating the effects of the Great War and preventing such an event from occurring again. At its establishment up until the present day, it has had wide currency, with almost all widely reocgnised sovereign states being members of the CN.
Structure
International Assembly
The International Assembly is the main body of delegates to the Community of Nations; all countries recognised by majority vote in the International Assembly are entitled to send a single voting delegate to the International Assembly. The International Assembly is able to move and pass motions on anything, but nothing it passes is binding but for motions on whether to recognise or not recognise certain regimes or governments as legitimate states, to decide on appointments of members of its Committees, and to impeach Secretary-Generals. The state in question, if already a member, is excluded from the voting on itself. The strict formula for motions to be passed is half of the total number of non-abstaining delegates plus one, rounded down; this remains the same no matter how many delegates are actually present, thus the quorum number is a simple majority of non-abstaining delegates. Draws on simple motions mean the motion fails.
General and Administrative Committee
The General and Administrative Committee (abbreviated as CGA, from Gaullican "Comité général et administratif") effectively manages the operation of the Community of Nations; it arranges security, materials, interpreters, identification, and so forth for Committees and Commissions within the CN. It also deals with budgetary issues and oversees the bureaucracy of the CN. In its appointment, the International Assembly generally follows the recommendation of the Secretary-General and the Committees, as the roles are formally purely administrative.
The General and Administrative Committee is chaired by the Secretary-General, which is officially the chief bureaucrat of the Community of Nations. However they are often seen as the face of the organisation and so have an important diplomatic role. The Secretary-General is elected every five years and rotates by region. The Secretary-General has two deputies - the Secretary for Logistics and the Secretary for Personnel. Under these are several under-secretaries.
International Committees
There are five International Committees which have formal legislative powers. They make decisions by simple majority vote. All International Committees have permanent representatives from Estmere, Nuxica, Soravia, Senria, and Werania and a representative from each of the eight regions. These members are elected by their regional peers and serve terms of three years with no re-election allowed unless approved by the Secretary-General as a last resort (i.e., a deadlock results in failure to produce a candidate).
If abstention causes a draw, the Secretary-General acts as tiebreaker. If the Secretary-General abstains, the decision does not pass. Committee members from member states with non-permanent seats are elected by their region, but cannot serve another term until all other members of that region have served. They serve a three year terms. Committee members from member states with permanent seats serve according to rules set by the members themselves.
Security Committee
The aim of the Security Committee is the preservation of peace. Its mission is to decide on such matters as intervention, peacekeeping and active monitoring of threats to global order. The SC oversees peacekeeping missions and authorizes Community of Nations mandates and economic sanctions as measures to maintain global peace.
The Security Committee, unlike other organs, allows members (both permanent and non-permanent) to veto motions. Vetoes can be overridden by the International Assembly by the following margins:
- Non-permanent member veto - 50% of IA votes.
- Permanent member veto - 75% of IA votes.
- Two-member veto - Unable to be overridden.
| Region served | Nation | Delegate name | Term began | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent seat | Template:Country data Estmere | Margaret Roxton | 2016 | 2021 |
| Permanent seat |  Nuxica
|
Josuè Magriñà | 2016 | 2021 |
| Permanent seat |  Soravia
|
Jan Jarabinec | 2016 | 2021 |
| Permanent seat |  Senria
|
Hiroyosi Haruna | 2018 | 2023 |
| Permanent seat |  Kirenia
|
Kaspars Zeidmanis | 2015 | 2020 |
| Permanent seat |  Werania
|
Helmuth Abshagen | 2017 | 2021 |
| Asteria North |  Vinalia
|
tbd | 2021 | 2023 |
| Asteria South |  Satucin
|
Josué Nee | 2017 | 2020 |
| Rahelia-Bahia |  Yemet
|
tbd | 2021 | 2023 |
| Coius West | tbd | 2019 | 2021 | |
| Coius South | 2021 | 2023 | ||
| Euclea East |  Gaullica
|
Iseult Berlioz | 2019 | 2021 |
| Euclea West |  West Miersa
|
tbd | 2021 | 2023 |
Economic Committee
The Economic Committee decides on economic and international financial matters.
Social Committee
The Social Committee rules on social, cultural, religious, humanitarian, and increasingly environmental matters.
Legal Committee
The Legal Committee interprets, negotiates and occasionally writes international law, and helps to solve disputes and develop legal systems.
Trusteeship Committee
The Trusteeship Committee helps states rebuild, aids decolonisation, and promotes self-determination and the legitimacy and stability of the nation-state. There are currently no territories under the auspices of this committee.
Commissions
The Community of Nations has fifteen commissions designed to act as specialised agencies in executing the CN's aims and missions abroad.
- Commission for Human Rights - Founded in 1935 with a wide range of responsibilities in the promotion and protection of human rights abroad as defined in the Declaration of Universal Natural Rights.
- Commission for Commerce and Trade Law - Focuses on “harmonising international trade law” and solving trade disputes.
- Commission for Refugees and Displaced Peoples - Deals with refugee management.
- Commission for Labour Standards - Deals with the advancement of social justice and promote decent work by setting international labour standards. Includes representation from trade unions.
- Commission for Disarmament - Deals with arms control and the prevention of arms proliferation.
- Commission for Cultural and Scientific Development - Deals with the promotion of cooperation within cultural and scientific spheres and the preservation of cultural landmarks.
- Commission for Agriculture and Food Security - Intended to eradicate world hunger. Later expanded to also include agricultural development.
- Commission for Disease Prevention and Health - Intended to combat epidemics and promote the development of good health.
- Commission for Water Sanitation and Security - Deals with the promotion of water sanitation and provides relief in droughts.
- Commission for Economic and Social Development - Deals with helping development of countries and the eradication of poverty.
- Commission for Habitation and Shelter - Focuses on providing housing and dealing with issues such as overpopulation.
- Commission for Maritime Boundaries - Governs international sea boundary law.
- Commission for the Protection of Women - Deals with women's issues.
- Commission for the Affairs of Indigenous Peoples - Deals with indigenous issues. Created in 2001.
- Commission for Climate Action - Deals with climate change issues. Created in 2014.
Criticism
From its earliest days, the CN has been criticized on a number of grounds. One perennial point of contention is its voluntary funding system, where member states are under no formal obligation to fund the ongoing work of the organization. This often results in serious budget shortfalls that lead to incomplete or cancelled programs, which particularly affects the poorest states which rely on the CN to provide basic humanitarian and security services. For the 2019–2020 budget period the CN had a €120 million operating deficit, the worst in nearly a decade, and the Secretary-General was forced to furlough staff and defer maintenance on buildings at headquarters. Reform proposals have been floated dozens of times to move to a mandatory assessment system that would stabilize the budget, but so far the Security Committee (which has a veto on matters affecting the Charter) has not allowed any proposed budget amendment to advance.
The nature and organization of the Security Committee have also been roundly criticized by states that feel the SC is an undemocratic and moribund institution. Telchìde Gliò, Permanent Representative of Montecara to the CN, has stated that the Security Committee's permanent membership "effectively freezes the power balance of international relations at an arbitrary point in the past" and that the lack of reform "absolutely guarantees that the committee will gradually become less and less representative of reality and therefore less respected when it is needed most." Reform proposals have included the abolition of permanent seats, the expansion of permanent seats to 10, 15, or 20 members, the expansion of non-permanent seats, and even the total abolition of the committee, with its duties taken up by the International Assembly. So far, no reform has been able to pass the committee itself.