Chapter 10: When Aliens Land – Global Governance and International Cooperation

10.2: Global Governance and The United Nations 

Global crises don’t respect borders. They sweep across nations, creating challenges that no single country can solve on its own. This is where global governance comes into play—a collective effort to manage international problems through cooperation among states, international organizations, and non-state actors. In the film Arrival, when alien spacecraft appear around the world, humanity is confronted with an existential crisis requiring unprecedented levels of coordination. Nations must decide whether to collaborate to decode the aliens’ language and intentions or to act independently, driven by mistrust and fear. The tension between these choices mirrors real-world dilemmas faced by international actors in addressing global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and armed conflicts. Success depends not only on shared resources but also on trust and communication. By exploring the role of the United Nations (UN) and its key functions—such as the Security Council, peacekeeping, and international law—this chapter will unpack how global governance operates, why it matters, and where its limitations lie.

In times of crisis, cooperation is the only path to resolution, but achieving it is often far from simple. Global governance serves as the framework for addressing shared challenges like environmental degradation, economic inequality, and international security threats. Unlike national governments, which operate within clearly defined borders, global governance relies on voluntary collaboration between nations, guided by common goals. In Arrival, the need for global governance is clear: no single nation has the resources or knowledge to interpret the aliens’ intentions alone. Early in the film, nations begin sharing intelligence and research, reflecting the spirit of cooperation needed to tackle shared challenges. Real-world examples include international efforts like the Paris Climate Accord, where countries work together to reduce emissions, or the COVAX initiative, which aimed to ensure equitable vaccine distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as in the film, such efforts are often fragile and can collapse under the weight of mistrust or competing national interests. In Arrival, we see this fragility when some nations begin acting independently, prioritizing their own security over collective progress. This highlights the need for a stabilizing force, such as the United Nations, to facilitate collaboration and maintain focus on common goals.

Even in a world divided by borders, languages, and interests, there exists a place where nearly every nation has a seat at the table and a voice in the global conversation. The United Nations (UN) is the most prominent institution in global governance, founded in 1945 after the devastation of World War II. It was created to promote peace, prevent future conflicts, and foster international cooperation—goals rooted in the failure of the League of Nations. Over time, the UN has expanded its scope to tackle a wide range of global challenges including poverty, health crises, and environmental degradation. Its agencies, such as WHO, UNICEF, and UNDP, have played key roles in eradicating diseases, delivering humanitarian aid, and supporting development in struggling regions. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a blueprint for building a more equitable and sustainable world.

The UN also plays a central role in conflict resolution and peacekeeping, deploying missions in places like Liberia and East Timor and providing negotiation platforms for conflicts such as those in Syria and Yemen. Its structure allows for both broad representation through the General Assembly and binding decision-making via the Security Council, although the latter is often criticized for power imbalances and political gridlock due to the veto power of its five permanent members. Despite these challenges, the UN remains a vital forum for international diplomacy and cooperation. Its history reflects both the complexity and necessity of global governance in a world where no single nation can solve global problems alone. However, the UN’s effectiveness often depends on its most powerful body, the Security Council, which can make binding decisions but is also a source of controversy.

The UN Security Council wields extraordinary power, making it one of the most important—and polarizing—elements of the United Nations. With the authority to authorize military interventions, impose sanctions, and make decisions that are binding on all member states, the Security Council is often at the center of international crises. This reflects ongoing real-world criticisms of the Council’s power structure, where the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) each hold veto power. This privilege allows any of them to block resolutions, often stalling collective action even in the face of humanitarian emergencies. For instance, during the Syrian conflict, repeated vetoes by Russia and China prevented the Council from passing resolutions aimed at holding the Assad regime accountable or authorizing military intervention. While the current structure was designed to keep major powers engaged and prevent unilateral action, it often undermines the Council’s legitimacy and its ability to respond swiftly to global crises.

In response, many scholars and diplomats have proposed reforms to make the Security Council more representative and effective. Suggested changes include expanding the number of permanent members to include emerging powers like India, Brazil, or South Africa, and limiting or abolishing the use of the veto in cases involving mass atrocities. However, these reforms have been difficult to implement, as they would require consensus among the very countries that benefit most from the current system. When the Security Council does manage to reach agreement, it has powerful tools at its disposal—including economic sanctions and peacekeeping operations—to help stabilize conflict zones and support diplomatic resolutions on the ground.

When bullets stop flying, the hard work of building peace often begins—and that’s where the UN’s boots-on-the-ground presence matters most. On the ground, peacekeeping operations often represent the UN’s most visible contribution to global governance. These missions involve deploying neutral forces to conflict zones to maintain ceasefires, protect civilians, and support transitions to peace. In real-world conflicts like those in Rwanda or the Balkans, peacekeeping missions have been crucial in preventing further violence and stabilizing regions. For example, in Rwanda, despite the tragic failure to prevent genocide in 1994, UN peacekeepers later played a key role in rebuilding the country and supporting reconciliation efforts. Another success story is the UN’s mission in Namibia (UNTAG), which helped guide the country peacefully to independence from South African control in 1990. However, peacekeeping missions are not without challenges. They often suffer from limited resources, unclear mandates, and occasional allegations of misconduct by peacekeepers. This highlights the importance of maintaining open communication, which is a central function of the UN General Assembly.

The UN General Assembly is the only body within the United Nations where every member state has an equal voice. It serves as a forum for all 193 member states to debate and address global issues, providing a platform for smaller nations to influence international discourse. Sometimes all you need to avoid catastrophe is a place to have a conversation. In Arrival, watch the scene below where Louise manages to avoid a diaster with China by directly appealing to General Shang with a personal phone call. Just like a phone call between two people though, the General Assembly cannot create law or make demands. Unlike the Security Council, the General Assembly’s resolutions are non-binding, meaning they cannot enforce actions. Still, the Assembly has played a critical role in shaping global norms, such as the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 or more recently advancing the Sustainable Development Goals to address poverty, inequality, and environmental challenges. While its decisions may lack enforcement power, the Assembly helps build consensus and foster dialogue, creating the foundation for legal frameworks that guide international relations. These legal frameworks, known as international law, are another cornerstone of global governance.

International law provides the rules of the game for how states interact. It governs everything from trade agreements and environmental protections to the conduct of war and human rights. In Arrival, the absence of a shared legal or communicative framework leads to chaos, as nations misinterpret the aliens’ message and escalate tensions, illustrating the dangers of operating without clear international norms. This reflects the critical role of international law in fostering stability and accountability in global relations. Treaties like the Geneva Conventions, which set standards for humanitarian treatment during conflict, or the Kyoto Protocol, which outlines obligations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, illustrate how international law works to regulate behavior and build trust among nations. However, enforcement remains a persistent challenge, as compliance often depends on states’ willingness to cooperate. In Arrival, the eventual breakthrough in communication—achieved through shared understanding and mutual respect—serves as a metaphor for the potential of international law to create order and resolve conflicts. It also underscores the broader theme of global governance: the need for trust, communication, and collective will to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

By examining the events of Arrival through the lens of global governance, we see how institutions like the United Nations attempt to balance national interests with collective action. From the Security Council’s binding decisions to the General Assembly’s inclusive debates and peacekeeping missions, the UN plays a critical role in shaping international responses to crises. However, as both the film and real-world examples show, global governance is often fragile, hindered by mistrust, power imbalances, and competing priorities. Whether confronting alien ships, climate change, or global conflict, the lessons remain clear: solving the world’s most pressing problems requires trust, communication, and a commitment to collaboration.