The United Nations Charter was created in reaction to World War II and Hitler's use of warfare as foreign policy. The charter makes it a crime to use force or even the threat of force to settle disputes between member states. Over time, the role of the UN has evolved to become, more generally, a forum for the mediation of inter-state conflicts and a mechanism for advancing and funding global policy goals.

Critics charge that the fossilization of superpower influence in the Security Council prevented the UN from its original purpose of imposing and protecting world peace. The superpowers, especially the U.S. and Soviet Union used their veto powers to protect their client states like Israel and North Korea from international punishment. Others maintain that anti-Israel and other resolutions sponsored in the General Assembly and the promotion of renegade states like Sudan to membership in Human Rights bodies have harmed the organization's legitimacy.

Despite criticisms, however, the UN remains the premier international organization and continues to be held in high prestige among member states. One notable exception to this is the United States. Conservative political groups in the US often list dismantling the UN or ending US membership as part of their agenda. Liberal groups in the US typically give the UN strong support.