ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the four main purposes of the United Nations spelled out in Article I of its charter. The UN Charter was signed, in the aftermath of World War II, with great fanfare on June 26, 1945. Its stated purpose was to "maintain international peace and security", "develop friendly relations among nations", "achieve international cooperation", and "be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations". Its position on the Westphalian system was clear and direct: "The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members". Nothing in the charter explicitly authorized action in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the state. In form, little of the prevailing order had actually changed. The difference was that now potential future advances could be made through a permanent organization. The role of the state and the concept of sovereignty continue to evolve slowly to meet the future needs of the changing global society.
