Which of the following does not contribute to the considerable influence of the United States within the United Nations?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The UN cannot bring the US into discussions over various issues and modify its attitudes and policies.
Option (1) The US is the single largest contributor to the UN. A source of influence (Incorrect). It gives the US unmatched financial power.
Option (2) The UN cannot bring the US into discussions over various issues and modify its attitudes and policies. Not a source of influence (Correct). The statement is not even true: the UN can and has served to bring the US and the rest of the world into discussions, and it provides an arena in which it is possible to modify US attitudes and policies. This works against US power, not for it.
Option (3) The US has considerable say in the choice of the UN Secretary General due to its veto power. A source of influence (Incorrect). Its veto lets it stop moves it finds annoying or damaging.
Option (4) The UN is physically located within the US territory. A source of influence (Incorrect). This gives Washington additional sources of influence.
NCERT (2025-26): “The UN in a Unipolar World … Secondly, within the UN, the influence of the US is considerable. As the single largest contributor to the UN, the US has unmatched financial power. The fact that the UN is physically located within the US territory gives Washington additional sources of influence. The US also has many nationals in the UN bureaucracy. In addition, with its veto power the US can stop any moves that it finds annoying or damaging to its interests or the interests of its friends and allies. The power of the US and its veto within the organisation also ensure that Washington has a considerable degree of say in the choice of the Secretary General of the UN.… The UN in a Unipolar World … The UN is not therefore a great balance to the US. Nevertheless, in a unipolar world in which the US is dominant, the UN can and has served to bring the US and the rest of the world into discussions over various issues. US leaders, in spite of their frequent criticism of the UN, do see the organisation as serving a purpose in bringing together over 190 nations in dealing with conflict and social and economic development. As for the rest of the world, the UN provides an arena in which it is possible to modify US attitudes and policies.…” |