UN 80 : Collective Security & the Korean War, by Thomas Gidney (1/7)

Épisode de geneveMonde.ch par David Glaser · 11 août 2025 · 7 min

This capsule is part of a 7 episodes series exploring the history of the United Nations with Dr. Thomas Gidney of the University of Geneva. Together, we revisit key moments, successes, and failures in the evolution of multilateralism since 1945.

From Idealism to Realpolitik

The United Nations was founded on the promise of collective security - where aggression against one would be met with a united international response. But how does this principle work in practice, especially when global powers disagree?

The UN’s bold promise of collective security meets a divided world

In this capsule, we examine the UN's role in the Korean War, the first military conflict fought under its banner. While the U.S. framed its intervention as multilateral action, it pushed beyond the original UN mandate, revealing the blurred lines between international cooperation and superpower agendas.

The Veto Power Play

We also explore how the Security Council's structure - especially the use of the veto - shaped the early dynamics of Cold War diplomacy and exposed the limits of the UN’s capacity to act as a truly neutral peacekeeper.

Interview and photo by David Glaser

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