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The Parliament of Man: The Past, Present, and Future of the United Nations
“With all its defects, with all the failures that we can check up against it, the UN still represents man’s best-organized hope to substitute the conference table for the battlefield.”
–Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961
The signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945 was an unprecedented development in the history of humankind. For the first time, the world’s most powerful sovereign nation states came together to create an autonomous organization designed to, in the Charter’s words, “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war [and] reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights.” Sixty years later, the UN still doggedly pursues that mandate, albeit not without difficulty and certainly not without criticism.
In The Parliament of Man, the distinguished scholar Paul Kennedy gives a thorough and timely history of the United Nations that explains the institution’s roots and functions while also casting an objective eye on the UN’s effectiveness as a body and on its prospects for success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.
Building on expertise he gained in drafting official reports for the UN’s fiftieth anniversary on how to improve the organization’s performance, Kennedy makes sense of the many commissions and committees, and how its six main operating bodies–General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (UNESCO), Trusteeship Council, Secretariat, and International Court–operate and interact. Citing examples from the UN’s history, he shows how the five permanent members of the Security Council–the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France–on numerous occasions overcame political antagonisms to spearhead military supervision of aid in humanitarian crises, and how lack of cooperation among the great powers has hamstrung such initiatives as the control of greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbated the deleterious effects of globalization on developing nations’ economies.
As a body, the UN emerges here for what it is: fallible, human-based, oftentimes dependent on the whims of powerful national governments or the foibles of individual senior UN administrators, but utterly indispensable. In The Parliament of Man, Kennedy ably proves that “it is difficult to imagine how much more riven and ruinous our world of six billion people would be if there had been no UN social, environmental, and cultural agendas–and no institutions to attempt to put them into practice on the ground.”
–Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961
The signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945 was an unprecedented development in the history of humankind. For the first time, the world’s most powerful sovereign nation states came together to create an autonomous organization designed to, in the Charter’s words, “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war [and] reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights.” Sixty years later, the UN still doggedly pursues that mandate, albeit not without difficulty and certainly not without criticism.
In The Parliament of Man, the distinguished scholar Paul Kennedy gives a thorough and timely history of the United Nations that explains the institution’s roots and functions while also casting an objective eye on the UN’s effectiveness as a body and on its prospects for success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.
Building on expertise he gained in drafting official reports for the UN’s fiftieth anniversary on how to improve the organization’s performance, Kennedy makes sense of the many commissions and committees, and how its six main operating bodies–General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (UNESCO), Trusteeship Council, Secretariat, and International Court–operate and interact. Citing examples from the UN’s history, he shows how the five permanent members of the Security Council–the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France–on numerous occasions overcame political antagonisms to spearhead military supervision of aid in humanitarian crises, and how lack of cooperation among the great powers has hamstrung such initiatives as the control of greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbated the deleterious effects of globalization on developing nations’ economies.
As a body, the UN emerges here for what it is: fallible, human-based, oftentimes dependent on the whims of powerful national governments or the foibles of individual senior UN administrators, but utterly indispensable. In The Parliament of Man, Kennedy ably proves that “it is difficult to imagine how much more riven and ruinous our world of six billion people would be if there had been no UN social, environmental, and cultural agendas–and no institutions to attempt to put them into practice on the ground.”
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2006
45 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Paul Kennedy
151 books276 followersPaul Michael Kennedy is a British historian specialising in the history of international relations, economic power and grand strategy. He has published prominent books on the history of British foreign policy and Great Power struggles.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 15, 2008
What a disappointment. Kennedy is a heck of a historian, but he mailed this one in. Instead of new insights or information about the UN, Kennedy just gives us warmed-over potted history and a handful of stale arguments - the same ones repeated over and over and over throughout the book.
More frustrating than anything else is his determination to treat the UN as a coherent institution capable of taking action whenever it does something that he likes, and to switch his attention to the member states' (and usually, the United States') actions when the UN doesn't. This makes it impossible to understand how different ideas about growth and development or peacekeeping or arms control actually bubbled up and gained support in the institution - they just sort of appear fully formed, with the sort of an ambiguously defined "developing world." Cold War conflict is just brushed aside as a sad paralysis of the Security Council, with no mention of the pull of the US and USSR on their allies or of how that shaped debate.
The economics chapter is especially frustrating. It goes way too far afield in trying to talk about the World Bank and IMF, and fails completely - Kennedy doesn't even mention the worldwide popularity of state-led, socialist development in trying to explain why the developing world remained so poor, and similarly missed the turn away from that approach that has done more than anything else to actually reduce poverty in China, India, and the rest of Asia.
All of which is a shame, because the UN is a genuinely fascinating creature. Very good in-depth analyses of specific time periods or functions are out there, but there really is an opening for a good general history to bring together all of that thought. This, sadly, isn't it.
More frustrating than anything else is his determination to treat the UN as a coherent institution capable of taking action whenever it does something that he likes, and to switch his attention to the member states' (and usually, the United States') actions when the UN doesn't. This makes it impossible to understand how different ideas about growth and development or peacekeeping or arms control actually bubbled up and gained support in the institution - they just sort of appear fully formed, with the sort of an ambiguously defined "developing world." Cold War conflict is just brushed aside as a sad paralysis of the Security Council, with no mention of the pull of the US and USSR on their allies or of how that shaped debate.
The economics chapter is especially frustrating. It goes way too far afield in trying to talk about the World Bank and IMF, and fails completely - Kennedy doesn't even mention the worldwide popularity of state-led, socialist development in trying to explain why the developing world remained so poor, and similarly missed the turn away from that approach that has done more than anything else to actually reduce poverty in China, India, and the rest of Asia.
All of which is a shame, because the UN is a genuinely fascinating creature. Very good in-depth analyses of specific time periods or functions are out there, but there really is an opening for a good general history to bring together all of that thought. This, sadly, isn't it.
July 19, 2021
"With all the defects, with all the failures that we can check up against it, the UN still represents man's best-organized hope to substitute the conference table for the battlefield." - US President Dwight Eisenhower (in-book quote).
Author Paul Kennedy provides a holistic and honest account of the United Nations (UN). He holds no punches whenever UN officers fail in their capacity as humanitarians, yet remains fully aware throughout that the dysfunctions of the UN are by design. The author dedicated a substantial part of the book to the organisation's political/economic role, though this reviewer thinks that its social/cultural/educational role matters just as much and should be covered equally. Overall, Kennedy excels in demystifying the naive idealism that many hold towards an institution governed by a 190+ squabbling states.
Read this for a informative/factual account of the organisation, though do not expect much nuanced analysis.
Author Paul Kennedy provides a holistic and honest account of the United Nations (UN). He holds no punches whenever UN officers fail in their capacity as humanitarians, yet remains fully aware throughout that the dysfunctions of the UN are by design. The author dedicated a substantial part of the book to the organisation's political/economic role, though this reviewer thinks that its social/cultural/educational role matters just as much and should be covered equally. Overall, Kennedy excels in demystifying the naive idealism that many hold towards an institution governed by a 190+ squabbling states.
Read this for a informative/factual account of the organisation, though do not expect much nuanced analysis.
May 30, 2020
Kennedy sets out to make sense of the maze of institutions which form the UN. For that purpose, he splits the main part of the book into thematic rather than chronological chapters - a good choice. Overall, he succeeds, but the book is still less accessible than Rise and Fall of the Great Powers or Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery - but that might be due to its complicated subject matter.
September 22, 2025
This book managed to make the complexity of the United Nations concise without leaving out detail and makes a hopeful case for the improvements that can be made to ensure a more productive and efficient world governing body.
December 14, 2010
Kennedy's book putatively attempts to explain (with a middling level of detail) the creation and history of the United Nations, along with its concordant and subsidiary bodies and the roles they have played, along with important programs and influential individuals. It also goes into a bit of detail of the public perceptions and reactions to different UN bodies and UN characteristics. Quite a task, and the second reading of this book has enriched my understanding of Kennedy's topical and historical sweep.
The book first looks to the creation of the UN, the UN Charter (contained n the Annex), then explores the Security Council and its powers, and then discusses the General Assembly, concordant bodies to the UN such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the softer programs such as UNICEF, UNESCO, the role of the Secretary General, and the growth of the General Assembly in the 1960s and 70s.
Kennedy ends with possible steps to reform the UN, which as a pretty boring section as this part of his book was adapted from a report he wrote for the UN itself. He then discusses challenges to reform and overarching challenges to the UN structure as a whole - especially considering the UN Charter was drafted right after WWII and in light of a few global superpowers, a situation which has changed in the past 60 years in many, many respects.
The UN has always aimed very high with its lofty and utopian goals, and regrettably suffers much criticism when it does not reach those goals, along with cautious and weary Member States suffering from donor fatigue and cynical domestic legislatures hesitant to allocate any powers which might even suggest a loss of national sovereignty.
Despite its many failings, the UN has actually accomplished many laudable actual achievements over the years, and it has made progress towards a safer, more stable and equitable world. This progress and stability is almost always overlooked and diminished.
Kennedy's book is the best introductory text to the UN that I know of.
The book first looks to the creation of the UN, the UN Charter (contained n the Annex), then explores the Security Council and its powers, and then discusses the General Assembly, concordant bodies to the UN such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the softer programs such as UNICEF, UNESCO, the role of the Secretary General, and the growth of the General Assembly in the 1960s and 70s.
Kennedy ends with possible steps to reform the UN, which as a pretty boring section as this part of his book was adapted from a report he wrote for the UN itself. He then discusses challenges to reform and overarching challenges to the UN structure as a whole - especially considering the UN Charter was drafted right after WWII and in light of a few global superpowers, a situation which has changed in the past 60 years in many, many respects.
The UN has always aimed very high with its lofty and utopian goals, and regrettably suffers much criticism when it does not reach those goals, along with cautious and weary Member States suffering from donor fatigue and cynical domestic legislatures hesitant to allocate any powers which might even suggest a loss of national sovereignty.
Despite its many failings, the UN has actually accomplished many laudable actual achievements over the years, and it has made progress towards a safer, more stable and equitable world. This progress and stability is almost always overlooked and diminished.
Kennedy's book is the best introductory text to the UN that I know of.
August 12, 2011
This book is recommended for all those interested in international politics and particularly the role of the UN on the world stage. I bought it in conjunction with books considering the failures of the organisation in Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Somalia - Kennedy gives a clear insight as to how and why these operations stumbled taking into account the limits of a charter established over 60 years ago.
Especially interesting for those familiar with Kennedy is how he utilises the "Great Power" theory outlined in The Rise and Fall [..], and how with international crises ballooning in numbers following the end of the Cold War, the UN itself faced something of an "imperial overstretch".
I haven't reached the final chapter on reform yet, but the problems outlined by the current structure leave both the reader and Kennedy without much hope for successful or meaningful advancement of the UNSC system - greatly undermined by independent operations such as Iraq (2003) and more recently the Russia/Georgia
Especially interesting for those familiar with Kennedy is how he utilises the "Great Power" theory outlined in The Rise and Fall [..], and how with international crises ballooning in numbers following the end of the Cold War, the UN itself faced something of an "imperial overstretch".
I haven't reached the final chapter on reform yet, but the problems outlined by the current structure leave both the reader and Kennedy without much hope for successful or meaningful advancement of the UNSC system - greatly undermined by independent operations such as Iraq (2003) and more recently the Russia/Georgia
January 3, 2010
A reminder of the idealist I once was, I say. The book hasn't quite hooked me, three chapters on - which I suspect is a result of the very historical narrative of the formation of a world government (or at least a semblance of a world government). Not a book for someone who is already attuned to the history of the UN.
I was rather hoping that the blurb at the back of the book held true "Ultimately he shows why, despite its fallibility and its foibles, the UN remains utterly indispensable to our future". But at this point, I am not seeing an argument yet.
I was rather hoping that the blurb at the back of the book held true "Ultimately he shows why, despite its fallibility and its foibles, the UN remains utterly indispensable to our future". But at this point, I am not seeing an argument yet.
September 8, 2012
Nicely structured book about the past, present and future of the UN. He starts by painting a picture of the situation at the end of the second world war and the League of Nations. The final chapter is another "bookend" and looks to the future. In between you have the story as it has unfolded on six thematic fronts. I find the author striking a nice balance between the aspiration and the reality. This is particularly evident in his discussion on the option on Security Council reform.
April 11, 2014
Recommended for all those interested in international politics
History of the League of Nations and United Nations
Covers the major areas of the UN , Goes through the past, present and future of the UN.
He starts by the end of the second world war and the League of Nations.Then the UN rule in the current days how the UN works and it's councils , The final chapter is about the future and the expected difficulties.
History of the League of Nations and United Nations
Covers the major areas of the UN , Goes through the past, present and future of the UN.
He starts by the end of the second world war and the League of Nations.Then the UN rule in the current days how the UN works and it's councils , The final chapter is about the future and the expected difficulties.
July 26, 2011
Best introduction to the UN that I have found. Covers the major areas and gives some idea to what is holding the UN from being a really effective institution and states it in a fair way to show that sometimes you don't really want the UN to work, but this comes at the loss of it not working sometimes when we'd rather. Nuanced arguments, it's basic premise is that the UN is two steps forward.
March 27, 2007
Okay. I learned more about the UN. The first chapter on how the UN came about and the lessons learned from the League of Nations fiasco was strong. The other chapters on potential reform and current workings were less strong.
January 14, 2008
I like it, the UN has had a colorful/interesting/tragic life so far. Roots + past useful to understand more of UN & why it often fails and sometimes succeeds. Helps better understand current wrangling re Iran, North Korea etc. Well written though maybe not top notch.
September 26, 2008
A brilliantly written book traces the history of the League of Nations and the United Nations. For those pondering: what works, and what doesn't work, in trying to create world peace, this scholarly work provides a lot of answers, and much more to think about.
February 5, 2018
Un poco tedioso para tratarse de Paul Kennedy. Una sucesión de misiones y organismos que puede llegar a caer en el tedio y la monotonía. Es indudable el gran trabajo tras el libro. Pero a veces se hace monótono.
July 25, 2009
Good to read
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January 18, 2010The Parliament of Man: The Past, Present, and Future of the United Nations by Paul Kennedy (2006)
July 20, 2007
Interesting read about past and present of that eminent boondoggle of a bureaucracy, the UN.
September 17, 2009
Awfully dull and academic. Reads like a textbook.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews