History UsefulNotes / UnitedNations

* In the main ''CommandAndConquerTiberium'' timeline, the United Nations founded the Global Defense Initiative, an international army, to protect the free world from international terrorism. After the arrival of [[GreenRocks Tiberium]] and the rise of the Brotherhood of Nod destroyed much of the planet, the GDI has pretty much become a OneWorldOrder.

* Likewise, in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'', Earth is defended by the UN [[SpaceNavy "Spacy"]], or in [[Anime/MacrossFrontier later sequels]], the ''New'' UN Spacy. The ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' adaptation of ''Macross'' has a similar organization, usually called the "United Earth Government" or the "United World Government" in spinoff fiction even though they write "UN Spacy" on all their mecha.

* The World Conference in ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' seems to be based on the General Assembly of the UN: A lot of countries meeting to discuss the worlds problems with the results being [[WeAreStrugglingTogether not]] [[NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering so]] [[BloodOnTheDebateFloor impressive]]. In World Series, we also get to see a Mister UN.

* WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}} has the EducationalSong [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvi3ew2i34M U.N. Me.]] Not to be confused with the anti-U.N. exposee documentary of the same name.

* The United Nations in the ''Guilty Gear'' games, who host the original fighting tournament and place the bounty on Dizzy.

* The World Conference in ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' seems to be based on the General Assembly of the UN: A lot of countries meeting to discuss the worlds problems with the results being [[WeAreStruggelingTogether not]] [[NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering so]] [[BloodOnTheDebateFloor impressive]]. In World Series, we also get to see a Mister UN.

* Likewise, in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'', Earth is defended by the UN [[SpaceNavy "Spacy"]], or in [[Anime/MacrossFrontier later sequels]], the ''New'' UN Spacy. The ''{{Anime/Robotech}}'' adaptation of ''Macross'' has a similar organization, usually called the "United Earth Government" or the "United World Government" in spinoff fiction even though they write "UN Spacy" on all their mecha.

* The World Conference in AxisPowersHetalia seems to be based on the General Assembly of the UN: A lot of countries meeting to discuss the worlds problems with the results being [[WeAreStruggelingTogether not]] [[NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering so]] [[BloodOnTheDebateFloor impressive]]. In World Series, we also get to see a Mister UN.

* Appeared in the (in)famous Franchise/{{Batman}} story arc "ComicBook/{{A Death in the Family}}", where SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, hired by Iran as its ambassador, plots to kill all the delegates with Laughing Gas... and almost succeeds! He also managed to plant bombs inside the General Assembly Chamber and sneak Iranian gunmen inside.

* In a plot-swinging United Security debate on North Korea's invasion of South Korea in ''RedPhoenix'', the US Ambassador provides evidence of Soviet pilots flying against the US on North Korea's side, with Soviet backing. In the vote that follows, the US and USSR can't vote (they're parties to the dispute) and the Chinese, who were expected to veto a resolution on the matter as they're also arming North Korea, ''abstain''. [[spoiler: China eventually engineers a coup in the DPRK and a cease-fire]].
* In ''LeftBehind'', the United Nations (now headed by the Antichrist) is portrayed as an organization that pretty much rules the world already.

* In the ''[[Series/TheTwilightZone Twilight Zone]]'' episode "To Serve Man", the spokesman for the Kanamit aliens addresses the UN. [[spoiler:He also leaves behind a book titled [[TitleDrop ''To Serve Man'']], which the story's famous TwistEnding reveals as [[ImAHumanitarian a cookbook]]]].

* In ''[[AlphaCentauri SidMeier's Alpha Centauri]]'', the Peacekeepers are a combination of the remnants of the United Nations personnel and others devoted to democratic and humanitarian ideals on the starship ''Unity'', united under one group when the population of the ship broke up into different ideological factions. They effectively form a new UN on Planet after landing, though they are effectively just one of the seven factions with no official control over the others. The Peacekeepers do, however, have serious political capital, giving them an edge in elections when an international council is eventually established (i.e. each other faction gets one vote per unit of population, while the Peacekeepers get two per unit of population).

# Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1991-1996): Formerly Egyptian Foreign Minister. Noted for his funny name, love of French culture (he was later Secretary-General of ''La Francophonie'') and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick ignoring the Rwandan Genocide]]. Oops. A failure to do fix dysfunction in the UN anything even ''after'' the Genocide was over and everyone had taken their lumps earned him the ire of the United States, which led an effort to "do him in," in the unfortunate wording of one of the American diplomats responsible. Others claim that he was too critical of the US tendancy of wanting the UN to always agree with them [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney because they donate the most money]], who subsequently got rid of him. So far the only one-term Secretary-General. Noted in the UK for being suckered into a fake interview with SachaBaronCohen on ''DaAliGShow'', where Ali kept referring to him as Boutros Boutros Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

* Likewise, in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'', Earth is defended by the UN [[SpaceNavy "Spacy"]], or in [[Anime/MacrossFrontier later sequels]], the ''New'' UN Spacy. The ''{{Robotech}}'' adaptation of ''Macross'' has a similar organization, usually called the "United Earth Government" or the "United World Government" in spinoff fiction even though they write "UN Spacy" on all their mecha.

Those dudes in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity who try to solve the world's problems. They were set up to prevent WorldWarIII; heck, it's worked so far! At the very least, the UN has been more successful than their predecessor, the UsefulNotes/LeagueOfNations, who were created to prevent ''UsefulNotes/WorldWarII'' - and we all know how successful they were at that. The organization was founded on October 24, 1945, as the official replacement for the League of Nations; it was known as UNO (United Nations Organization) in its early years, partly because the term "United Nations" had previously been used for the Allies in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. They've always been based in New York City, but didn't start moving into their permanent headquarters at Turtle Bay until the early 1950s.

[[AC:Roleplaying Games]]
* In {{GURPS}},at least two alternate Earths are led (in all but name) by their United Nations: The main one from InfiniteWorlds and the one from GURPSSupers. In both there are still sovereign states that must be dealt with diplomatically, but the UN still has actual military power (but both are still mainly benevolent.)

Those dudes in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity who try to solve the world's problems. They were set up to prevent WorldWarIII; heck, it's worked so far! At the very least, the UN has been more successful than their predecessor, the UsefulNotes/LeagueOfNations, who were created to prevent ''UsefulNotes/WorldWarII'' - and we all know how successful they were at that. The organization was founded on October 24, 1945, as the official replacement for the League of Nations; it was known as UNO (United Nations Organization) in its early years, partly because the term "United Nations" had previously been used for the Allies in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

Actually, they're ambassadors from all the UN member states, plus the many, many interpreters.

Since every nation can join (and almost all have, although UsefulNotes/{{Switzerland}} didn't join until 2002!) that means every nation can stand up in front of the world and air their grievances.

Those dudes in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity who try to solve the world's problems. They were set up to prevent WorldWarIII; heck, it's worked so far! At the very least, the UN has been more successful than their predecessor, the UsefulNotes/LeagueOfNations, who were created to prevent ''UsefulNotes/WorldWarII'' - and we all know how successful they were at that.

# Trygve Lie (1946-1952): Formerly Norwegian foreign minister, he pissed off the Soviets shortly before the end of his first term; it didn't help that Norway joined {{NATO}} when it was founded in 1949. He got his second term partly out of confusion about the rules, and resigned under Soviet pressure.

* The main characters of ''LightNovel/JinruiWaSuitaiShimashita'' are all employed by the UN. Presumably the UN has taken over as the government thanks to the whole "[[JustBeforeTheEnd humanity dying out]]" thing.

* Likewise, in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'', Earth is defended by the UN [[SpaceNavy "Spacy"]], or in [[MacrossFrontier later sequels]], the ''New'' UN Spacy. The ''{{Robotech}}'' adaptation of ''Macross'' has a similar organization, usually called the "United Earth Government" or the "United World Government" in spinoff fiction even though they write "UN Spacy" on all their mecha.

Thus you can see some of the problems. During the UsefulNotes/ColdWar, the SovietUnion (and later [[RedChina China]], when the vote was switched from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China) would use the veto against the Western nations. Today, it is the United States which most often uses the veto, typically striking down resolutions it sees to be taking the Arab/Palestinian side in the ArabIsraeliConflict. The veto power sometimes gets wielded by China (and less regularly, Russia) to strike down resolutions regarding human rights, even if it doesn't affect human rights in that country. These vetoes frequently come in the face of otherwise-unanimous votes in the Council, which annoys a lot of Arab and/or Muslim countries and ultimately erode the legitimacy of the UN.

# [[AwesomeMcCoolname Dag Hammarskjöld]] which translates as "Day Hammershield" (1952-1961): A minor Swedish diplomat and public intellectual before his election, he earned universal acclaim for his diplomatic skills and calls for calm in some of the scariest years of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar. He drew flak from the USSR in his second term for his deep involvement in trying to solve a major political crisis in the [[UsefulNotes/DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo Belgian Congo]]; the Soviets were later forced to eat crow, however, as he [[NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead died in a plane crash]] in Northern Rhodesia (now UsefulNotes/{{Zambia}}) while on a peacekeeping mission in Congo. JohnFKennedy called him "the greatest statesman of the century."

Since the creation of the United Nations (before that in fact- there were Model League of Nations simulations--which started, ironically, at Harvard, in the United States, which never joined the League), high school and university organisations have been running simulations of parts of the United Nations, generally called ModelUnitedNations. These are designed to improve understanding of international affairs, build up public speaking skills and look good on a CV/resume.

* ''TheInterpreter''- the only thing ever filmed in the real UN building. Someone dies.

* ''LeftBehind''.

* ''The Art of War'': Wesley Snipes as a U.N. spy.

Thus you can see some of the problems. During the ColdWar, the SovietUnion (and later [[RedChina China]], when the vote was switched from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China) would use the veto against the Western nations. Today, it is the United States which most often uses the veto, typically striking down resolutions it sees to be taking the Arab/Palestinian side in the ArabIsraeliConflict. The veto power sometimes gets wielded by China (and less regularly, Russia) to strike down resolutions regarding human rights, even if it doesn't affect human rights in that country. These vetoes frequently come in the face of otherwise-unanimous votes in the Council, which annoys a lot of Arab and/or Muslim countries and ultimately erode the legitimacy of the UN.

# [[AwesomeMcCoolname Dag Hammarskjöld]] which translates as "Day Hammershield" (1952-1961): A minor Swedish diplomat and public intellectual before his election, he earned universal acclaim for his diplomatic skills and calls for calm in some of the scariest years of the ColdWar. He drew flak from the USSR in his second term for his deep involvement in trying to solve a major political crisis in the [[UsefulNotes/DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo Belgian Congo]]; the Soviets were later forced to eat crow, however, as he [[NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead died in a plane crash]] in Northern Rhodesia (now UsefulNotes/{{Zambia}}) while on a peacekeeping mission in Congo. JohnFKennedy called him "the greatest statesman of the century."

The UN consists of many parts. The General Assembly and the Security Council are the most well known. The General Assembly is much like the U.S. Congress, specifically the Senate: every nation gets one vote (unless you were the Soviet Union, then you got three [[note]]One vote for the Soviet Union, one vote for the Ukraine and one for Byelorussia (now Belarus). Stalin originally wanted all sixteen of the Soviet Republics to get a vote on the theory that the Soviet constitution was a treaty between sovereign states. UsefulNotes/HarryTruman more or less said, "Well, the US Constitution was originally a treaty between sovereign states, so each one of the 48 (at the time) should get a vote." Stalin shut up after that, but the Ukrainian and Byelorussian [=SSRs=] got votes because the US was feeling nice and didn't want the USSR to feel that it was getting short shrift (the US had way more allies at the time than did the Soviet Union).[[/note]] due to the agreements made when joining the U.N. (And yes, they always voted the same way.) The Security Council is where the real power is. Since 1966, the Security Council has had 15 members made up of five permanent members (commonly called the Permanent Five or [=P5=] for short) and ten rotating countries elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. Only the Security Council can take military action. Much of the "weakness" of the UN is due to the fact that any permanent member (US, UK, Russia, China, France) can veto any Security Council resolution simply by voting against it. The theory was that because Security Council resolutions are (theoretically) binding, it would not be reasonable for one of the Big Five to be forced, by law, to act against its interests. Permanent members which wish to express displeasure with a resolution but don't see much use in pissing everyone off by vetoing it tend to abstain; that way, they don't vote ''for'' the resolution, but they also didn't vote ''against'' it (which would be a veto). This wasn't written into the Charter, but became generally accepted as a solution to a common problem (a [=P5=] not wanting to destroy a resolution because it didn't care about it ''that'' much, but also reticent to be seen to support it).

Those dudes in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity who try to solve the world's problems. They were set up to prevent WorldWarIII; heck, it's worked so far! At the very least, the UN has been more successful than their predecessor, the League of Nations, who were created to prevent ''UsefulNotes/WorldWarII'' - and we all know how successful they were at that.

** Prior to GDI's establishment, the UN had a black-ops unit to solve problems. Part of the impetus for GDI's formation was said black-ops unit being revealed to the public due to a bungled operation (it apparently wasn't dissolved, however -- a black-ops unit by the same name shows up operating under GDI aegis in ''Renegade'').

* There are mentions of U Thant in ''ComicStrip/{{Mafalda}}. Justified, considering the time the strips were published in and how political the title character could be.

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
* Controls all the armed forces seen in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. Obvious from the first scene, where the line of tanks seen along the waterfront all have UN painted in large white letters on the turrets.
* Likewise, in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'', Earth is defended by the UN [[SpaceNavy "Spacy"]], or in [[MacrossFrontier later sequels]], the ''New'' UN Spacy. The ''{{Robotech}}'' adaptation of ''Macross'' has a similar organization, usually called the "United Earth Government" or the "United World Government" in spinoff fiction even though they write "UN Spacy" on all their mecha.
* The main characters of ''LightNovel/JinruiWaSuitaiShimashita'' are all employed by the UN. Presumably the UN has taken over as the government thanks to the whole "[[JustBeforeTheEnd humanity dying out]]" thing.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* Appeared in the (in)famous Franchise/{{Batman}} story arc "ComicBook/{{A Death in the Family}}", where SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, hired by Iran as its ambassador, plots to kill all the delegates with Laughing Gas... and almost succeeds! He also managed to plant bombs inside the General Assembly Chamber and sneak Iranian gunmen inside.

* ''{{Series/Mash}}'': Frank has nothing against the U.N., except that it's [[ShapedLikeItself full of foreigners]].