Unit 6D: International Politics and the UK Simon Lightfoot Lecturer in European Studies at Liverpool John Moores University writes for BBC Parliament

How far does the authority of the UN extend?

Despite a decline in its power during the post-war period, the UK is a member of a number of major international organisations.

This membership plays a role in shaping foreign, defence and economic policy in the UK, as well as clearly having an impact upon its national sovereignty. The UK is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, which means it has a veto over UN action.

ALSO IN THIS SECTION: Unit 6D - International Politics and the UK International Events and the UK EU Membership and the UK European Integration and the UK Reading list

The United Nations

UN support for military action is seen as crucial by many for the action to gain international legitimacy. This was very clear during the debate in 2002 about attacking Iraq.

Opinion polls suggest that many Labour MPs and members of the public would only support military action if it were backed up by a UN resolution.

This support for 'supranational' action is not just confined to military action.

Many within the parties of the 'left' (Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Greens) see the UN as the most appropriate lever to regulate industry, protect the environment and promote human rights.

For example, the Kyoto Treaty on climate change was negotiated under the auspices of the UN.

Nato

The UK was a founder member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), which was created at the start of the Cold War.

Nato is important in shaping UK defence policy as Article 5 states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

However, to get a complete picture of the UK's foreign and defence policy, it is also crucial to examine the commitments it has entered into as part of the European Union's (EU) Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

It is the future of the CFSP that causes most controversy in the UK, especially as it is tied up with the debate about the future role of Nato.

It is argued that Nato is now redundant since the collapse of its principal raison d'�tre, the Soviet Union, and that, for example, a European force may be more appropriate.

The UK however is keen for the defence link with the USA to remain and therefore only supports the development of an EU defence capability that does not damage Nato.

The WTO

In economic terms, the UK is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a body charged with promoting global free trade.

The WTO situation is complicated by the fact that on many trade issues the EU has sole competence to negotiate for the fifteen member states.

The UK's economic power also means it is a member of the Group of 8 countries (G8), originally a grouping of the world's seven richest industrial democracies.

The UK is also involved in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of industrialized countries, which seeks to promote co-ordination of economic and social policies among members.

Finally, it is also a member of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), both of which are specialized agencies of the United Nations Organization.

This shows that, via membership of international organisations, the UK government voluntarily shares sovereignty in the crucial spheres of economic, defence and foreign policy.

� Dr Simon Lightfoot 2004
Liverpool John Moores University