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Large majorities favour giving UN more powers

UNITED NATIONS: Global surveys show large majorities favoring the UN Security Council using force to stop genocide, nuclear proliferation and terrorism, according to findings released Thursday.

The findings were made public by two US research organizations, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA) and WorldPublicOpinion.org, based on surveys conducted with polling agencies in 18 nations representing roughly 56 percent of the world’s population.

“While leaders of nation states may be wary of giving the UN more power, it is clear that publics around the world are comfortable with the idea of a stronger UN,” said Steven Kull, editor of Washington-based WorldPublicOpinion.Org.

Large majorities in 12 of 14 countries polled agreed that the UN Security Council should have the right to use of force to “prevent severe human rights violations such as genocide,” with the highest levels of support in France (85 percent), Israel (83 percent) and the United States (83 percent).

A majority in eight countries led by China (76 percent), the US (74 percent) and the Palestinians (69 percent) felt the Council has not just the right but also the “responsibility” to intervene militarily to protect people from severe human rights abuses.

Large majorities averaging 71 percent and led by Israel (85 percent) and France (84 percent) also backed the use of force to “stop a country from supporting terrorist groups.”

Fifty-two percent on average agreed that military force should be allowed to prevent a country that does not have nuclear weapons from acquiring them, with highest support in Mexico (70 percent), Israel (62 percent) and the US (62 percent).

Asked whether their own country should be “more willing to make decisions within the UN” when dealing with international issues even if this meant their country having to “go along with a policy that is not its first choice,” 78 percent in China, 68 percent in France, 60 percent in the United States and surprisingly 54 percent in Israel agreed.

“Having a standing UN peacekeeping force selected, trained and commanded by the United Nations” was backed by majorities in 12 of the 14 countries polled, 64 percent on average.

The surveys were conducted from July 2006 to March this year in China, India, the United States, Indonesia, France, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, Poland, Iran, Mexico, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Peru, Israel, Armenia and the Palestinian territories.

In a separate review of US opinion, a July 2006 Chicago Council poll showed that 79 percent of American respondents endorsed the goal of “strengthening the UN.”

A majority of 66 percent in a December 2006 WPO/KN poll felt that the UN becoming significantly more powerful in world affairs “would be mostly positive.”

Several other polls in recent years indicated that a robust majority of Americans wants their government to work through the UN more than it does, even when reminded of the potential costs involved.

A Chicago Council survey last July also found broad US public support for enlarging the UN Security Council. Sixty-six percent of Americans polled felt Japan should be admitted.

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