## Learning Outcomes

- Explain why the United Nations (UN) was created and what it does today
- Recall how the UN Security Council is structured and the UK’s position within it
- Describe what NATO is and what member countries agree to do if attacked
- Identify the main difference between the UN’s global role and NATO’s defence role

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand the UK’s membership of key international institutions, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that the UN was set up after the Second World War to prevent war and promote international peace and security
- Know that the UN has more than 190 member countries
- Know that the UN Security Council has 15 members and recommends action during international crises and threats to peace
- Know that the UK is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
- Know that NATO is a group of European and North American countries that agree to help each other if attacked
- Understand the basic difference: the UN is a global international organisation; NATO is a regional defence alliance

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. Why was the United Nations set up after the Second World War?
2. How many members are on the UN Security Council, and what does it do in a crisis?
3. What special position does the UK hold on the UN Security Council?
4. What is NATO, and what do members agree to do if one of them is attacked?
5. Which organisation is global (worldwide) and which is focused on defence among European and North American countries?

## Introduction

The UK works with other countries through international organisations. For the Life in the UK Test, you must know the basic purpose of two of the most important bodies the UK belongs to: the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

These organisations have different jobs. The UN is global and aims to prevent war and support international peace and security. NATO is a defence alliance: members agree to support each other if attacked.

> **Key Term: international organisation**  
> A group of countries that cooperate through a formal institution to address shared issues such as security, peace, or human rights.

International organisations matter for the UK because many of today’s biggest problems cannot be solved by one country acting alone. Issues such as war and peace, climate change, migration, terrorism, and humanitarian crises often cross borders. By working through organisations like the UN and NATO, the UK can coordinate its actions with other states, share responsibility, and have a stronger voice in shaping global decisions.

International organisations also help set common rules. For example, UN agreements and resolutions can encourage countries to respect human rights, limit the spread of weapons, or cooperate in tackling global problems. NATO, on the other hand, sets shared expectations for defence and security among its members. Understanding these roles will help you see how the UK fits into the wider international community.

### The United Nations (UN)

The United Nations is an international organisation that includes more than 190 member countries. The UN was created after the Second World War (1939–1945). Its central aim is to prevent war and promote international peace and security.

The founders of the UN had seen the destruction and loss of life caused by two world wars in less than 30 years. They wanted a permanent international body where countries could talk to each other, try to solve disputes peacefully, and work together to stop future conflicts. The UN Charter, its founding document, set out principles such as respect for national sovereignty, peaceful settlement of disputes, and collective action against threats to peace.

The UN provides a place where countries can discuss problems and try to resolve disputes peacefully. It also supports a wide range of work linked to global stability, such as humanitarian relief, development, and human rights. However, for the Life in the UK Test, the most examinable points are why it was created, that it has more than 190 members, and the role and structure of the UN Security Council.

In your daily life, you may hear about UN peacekeepers, UN aid for refugees, or UN reports on climate or poverty. These are examples of how the UN tries to reduce the causes of conflict and improve conditions around the world. The UK contributes money, staff, and expertise to many UN programmes, which helps to reinforce its position as an active and responsible member of the international community.

> **Key Term: United Nations (UN)**  
> An international organisation, set up after the Second World War, that aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security.

#### The UN Security Council

A key part of the UN’s work on peace and security is carried out by the UN Security Council. In international crises and threats to peace, the Security Council recommends action. This is the detail most often tested because it is specific and includes clear numbers.

There are 15 members of the UN Security Council. The UK is one of the five permanent members.

The Security Council can discuss serious conflicts and threats to international peace, such as wars between states or civil wars that may spread beyond a country’s borders. It may call for a ceasefire, impose sanctions (for example, economic measures) to pressure a country to change its behaviour, or authorise the use of force, including peacekeeping missions. While the Life in the UK Test does not require you to memorise all these actions, it is useful to understand that the Security Council is the UN body that takes the lead when peace and security are at risk.

The 15 members of the Security Council are divided into two groups:

- Five permanent members
- Ten non-permanent members elected for limited terms

The permanent members are the UK, the United States, France, Russia, and China. These countries were given permanent seats because of their major role in the Second World War and their continuing influence in world affairs. Non-permanent members are chosen from different regions of the world to ensure broad representation.

> **Key Term: UN Security Council**  
> A UN body with 15 members that recommends action when there are international crises and threats to peace.
>
> **Test Tip:** Numbers are common in multiple-choice questions. Memorise “UN Security Council = 15 members” and “UK = one of 5 permanent members.”

#### The UK’s role in the UN

The UK participates in UN decision-making as a member state. The key fact you must remember is that the UK holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. This puts the UK among the small group of countries with a long-term leadership role in the Security Council’s work on international peace and security.

Being a permanent member allows the UK to play a central part in debates and decisions on major international crises. It can introduce or support resolutions and has a special power known as the “veto”, which can block certain decisions. The veto is shared by all five permanent members and reflects their responsibility as leading powers in global security.

The UK also contributes to the work of other UN bodies and agencies. For example, it supports UN development programmes, humanitarian efforts, and human rights initiatives. Although these details are not usually tested directly, they show that the UK’s involvement in the UN goes beyond the Security Council and covers many areas of international cooperation.

In exam questions, the wording may be direct (“The UK is one of five permanent members of the Security Council”) or indirect (“Which organisation has a Security Council with 15 members?”). Make sure you connect each fact to the correct institution: Security Council and “permanent member” are UN facts, not NATO facts.

### NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

The UK is also a member of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO is not a global organisation like the UN. It is a group of European and North American countries.

NATO was formed in 1949, soon after the Second World War, during a period of tension known as the Cold War. Many Western countries were concerned about the possibility of aggression, particularly from the Soviet Union. They decided that a joint defence arrangement would make each country safer than if it acted alone.

NATO members have agreed to help each other if they come under attack. NATO also aims to maintain peace between all of its members. In other words, it is a defence alliance designed to increase security by making an attack on one member a concern for all members.

> **Key Term: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)**  
> A group of European and North American countries that agree to help each other if any member comes under attack.

NATO has a civilian headquarters and a military structure that allow member countries to plan and work together. The UK contributes armed forces, takes part in joint exercises, and helps shape NATO’s strategy. Membership strengthens the UK’s security because it knows that other NATO countries are committed to its defence, just as the UK is committed to defending them.

#### What “help each other if attacked” means

For the test, you do not need detailed military rules or command structures. Focus on the central promise: mutual support if attacked. This is often described as “collective defence”. NATO’s purpose is to protect its members and reduce the risk of conflict between them.

The idea is that if a potential enemy knows that attacking one NATO member will bring a response from all, that enemy is less likely to attack. This shared commitment helps to deter aggression and contributes to stability in Europe and North America.

You may see a question that lists several organisations and asks which one is a defence alliance. If the organisation is described as European and North American countries agreeing to help each other if attacked, it is NATO.

> **Test Tip:** Use the quickest clue to pick the right answer:
>
> - “More than 190 countries” or “Security Council” → UN
> - “European and North American countries” or “help each other if attacked” → NATO

NATO has also worked with non-member countries in peacekeeping and crisis-management operations, but its core promise of mutual defence applies only to its members. The UK’s role in these operations underlines its broader commitment to international security, often alongside its work through the UN.

### UN vs NATO: what the test wants you to compare

A common Life in the UK question style is comparison. Both the UN and NATO deal with peace and security, but they do it in different ways and on different scales.

Knowing a few clear contrasts will help you answer questions quickly and avoid confusing the two organisations.

#### Membership and scope

- The UN is global: it includes more than 190 member countries from all regions of the world. Every recognised independent state is encouraged to join, and most have done so.
- NATO is regional: it is made up of countries from Europe and North America. Only states that meet NATO’s political and security standards, and that are invited, can join.

Because UN membership is so broad, the UN provides a worldwide forum where almost all countries can speak and be represented. By contrast, NATO membership is more limited and focused on a specific group of countries that share defence commitments and similar political values.

So, if you see “worldwide membership” or “more than 190 members”, think UN. If you see “Europe and North America”, think NATO.

#### Main purpose

- The UN was set up after the Second World War to prevent war and promote international peace and security. It seeks to encourage peaceful relations between countries and to address the wider causes of conflict, such as poverty and human rights abuses.
- NATO is a defence alliance where members agree to help each other if attacked and aims to maintain peace among its members. Its main concern is protecting its member states from external threats and ensuring that they do not go to war with each other.

A simple way to remember this difference is:

- UN = global organisation for peace and security through international cooperation
- NATO = defence alliance for mutual protection

#### The key body and key numbers

For the UN, the test focuses on one specific body with a number attached to it:

- UN Security Council: 15 members
- UK is one of five permanent members of that Council

For NATO, the test usually avoids numbers and focuses on the agreement to provide support if attacked.

You may also be asked about the relationship between the UK and these institutions. Remember:

- In the UN, the UK is a permanent member of the Security Council, giving it a special and long-term role in decisions about international peace and security.
- In NATO, the UK is one of several European and North American allies committed to collective defence.

Linking each fact to the correct organisation will help you choose the right option in multiple-choice questions.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- The UK is a member of both the United Nations (UN) and NATO
- The UN is an international organisation with more than 190 member countries
- The UN was set up after the Second World War to prevent war
- The UN aims to promote international peace and security
- The UN provides a forum for countries to discuss problems and settle disputes peacefully
- The UN supports wider work such as humanitarian aid, development, and human rights
- The UN Security Council recommends action during international crises and threats to peace
- There are 15 members on the UN Security Council
- The UK is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council
- Permanent members (including the UK) have a special, long-term role in maintaining international peace and security
- NATO is a group of European and North American countries
- NATO members agree to help each other if they come under attack
- NATO also aims to maintain peace between all of its members
- NATO is based on the idea of “collective defence” – an attack on one is treated as an attack on all
- A key comparison: UN is global; NATO is a regional defence alliance
- UN focuses on worldwide cooperation and peaceful relations between states, while NATO focuses on the defence and security of its members

## Key Terms and Concepts

- international organisation
- United Nations (UN)
- UN Security Council
- NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)


International role and institutions - NATO and the UN