This initial week introduces the United Nations as a complex and evolving system of agencies and institutions designed to tackle global challenges, from peacekeeping and development to human rights and humanitarian aid. Through expert videos and key readings, you'll examine how these parts fit together, where they fall short, and what reform might look like in the 21st century.

This week will look at how and why the United Nations was created. You will learn about the key countries and groups involved, what early UN agencies did, and the values that shaped the UN from the beginning. We’ll also think about how these early ideas compare to the way the UN works today.

This week will use the UN Security Council as a primer to the issue of relative power in international institutions. After examining the structure and operations of the Council, it will encourage learners to explore the fundamental issues that determine its existence, including the status of the five permanent members, its ability to carry out its function, and the use and impact of the veto. Additional reading will also provide an introduction to the Council’s wider role in global peace and security, and how it has evolved, successfully and unsuccessfully, in response to international crises.

This week traces how the UN’s founding promise of “fundamental human rights” evolved into a living yet fiercely contested agenda: you’ll map the three families of rights set out in the Charter and Universal Declaration, meet the Human Rights Council and its independent experts, and unpack why enforcement remains political, shaped by state power and civil-society activism, before weighing whether this system can keep pace with new challenges.

This week will introduce the family of UN agencies involved in humanitarian work, and begin to unpack their relationships with each other and role in responding to conflict.

In this week, learners are invited to reflect on the key themes and debates covered throughout the course and to consider the future of the United Nations. The featured video encourages critical thinking about what lies ahead for the UN and how global challenges may shape its role. Alongside this, students can explore practical ways to engage with international organisations, from study and career paths to volunteer opportunities, providing a bridge between academic learning and real-world involvement.