Buzz
With 193 members, the United Nations faces the challenge of maintaining fairness in organization. When arranging nations, questions arise: Who takes the lead? Who sits beside whom? Typically, the UN employs the impartial method of alphabetical order. Seating in the General Assembly and the flag display at the New York headquarters are organized based on the English names of countries, with the starting point rotated annually. However, some nations defy expectations in their placement.
1. North Korea, Following the Czech Republic
North Korea appears not under 'N' or 'K,' but at the start of the 'D's. This is due to its official name, 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea.' Not all nations follow this pattern—for instance, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is listed under 'V,' and the Plurinational State of Bolivia under 'B.'
2. South Korea, Following Qatar
South Korea is organized under its official designation, 'Republic of Korea.' In contrast, South Africa and South Sudan are listed under 'South,' despite their formal names being 'Republic of South Africa' and 'Republic of South Sudan,' respectively.
3. Macedonia, Following Thailand
After Macedonia gained independence during the dissolution of Yugoslavia, a dispute arose with Greece over its name. Greece, which has a region named Macedonia and a historical connection to the ancient kingdom of Macedon, opposed its northern neighbor's use of the name. Since 1995, negotiations have been ongoing, and until resolved, the nation is officially known as 'The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,' making it one of the few titles alphabetized under 'The.'
4. Tanzania, Following the United Kingdom
In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania, combining their names to reflect their union. Officially known as the 'United Republic of Tanzania,' this name highlights their unity and places the country alphabetically among other 'united' nations.
5. Moldova, Following South Korea
Specifically, it follows the Republic of Korea. While many former Soviet republics, such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Azerbaijan, are officially titled 'Republic of' but listed without it, Moldova is uniquely organized under 'Republic of Moldova' in the alphabetical order.
