How the UN Resolves Conflict

The UN has a list of procedures that nations may adopt in settling their disputes to arrive at an amicable agreement. Some of the methods to be used include negotiation, mediation, and inquiry, judicial settlement, arbitration, conciliation, resort to regional agencies and arrangements, or consider other peaceful means available to them. If the involved nations are unable to solve their dispute, the UN is mandated to invite them through its security council to act as an agent of reconciliation. When engaged in the as the intermediary, the UN is required to use the means that both parties have agreed to and guide them through the process until the conflict is resolved. Therefore, the Security Council discharges its duty by investigating cases that may climax to a crisis, welcome and consider disputes from member states, bind itself to the articles 11 and 12 that guide resolution of a dispute, and suggest alternatives throughout the process concerning pacific settlement.

Although the UN has outlined the guidelines, there is still occurrence of violence or conflict in resolving differences where the victor (whether is on the offending or defending) is correct regardless of their principles and motives. The UN acknowledges the alternative of war in its guidelines although it does not recommend it. The choice between war and peaceful resolution are moral questions. The world is divided, from society to the national level, on questions of morality such as war and peaceful resolutions. The theory of just war has taught that there are circumstances in which war is commendable especially when the offender is not willing or has no capabilities, as evident in his actions, that he does not appreciate peaceful settlement of a dispute. This has been witnessed in dealing with terror groups that for their reasons disrupt peaceful coexistence in the society. Therefore, a conflict exists because of the lack of common agreement on the moral path to settle the conflict.