The United Nations of the Future

The sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations again led to a lot of discussion about the organization, and rightly so. At the same time the debate was often not very balanced, emphasizing the shortcomings of the organization, but neglecting the fact that it is often active in situations which are beyond the control of all of its member states, i.e., in 'messy situations' where it can do hardly any good. In this book, the authors concentrate on the need to achieve security for all of mankind, and the role the United Nations could/ should plat in that respect. As the cliché remarks: "If the United Nations did not exist, it would have to be invented." This book argues that the United Nations is still very necessary, in a world full of conflict, poverty and the lack of human security. The authors go back to the original aims of the organization as formulated in 1945, while also examining all the major strengths and weaknesses that have emerged in the sixty years since.