An Organization Born From War
The United Nations was founded to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," in the words of its Charter, after the League of Nations had failed to prevent World War II. It is headquartered in New York City and remains the only forum where nearly every country on Earth has a seat.
The UN is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and self-determination, achieve international cooperation on economic, social, and humanitarian problems, and promote respect for human rights.
It is not a world government. It has no standing army of its own, cannot tax member states, and can compel action only through Security Council resolutions that its permanent members choose not to veto. Its influence comes from convening power, funding for humanitarian and development programs, and the legitimacy of near-universal membership.