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Would the World Be Better Without the UN?
Do we need the United Nations? Where would the contemporary world be without its largest intergovernmental organization? And where could it be had the UN’s member states and staff performed better?These fundamental questions are explored by the leading analyst of UN history and politics, Thomas G. Weiss, in this hard-hitting, authoritative book. While counterfactuals are often dismissed as academic contrivances, they can serve to focus the mind; and here, Weiss uses them to ably demonstrate the pluses and minuses of multilateral cooperation. He is not shy about UN achievements and failures drawn from its ideas and operations in its three substantive pillars of international peace and security; human rights and humanitarian action; and sustainable development. But, he argues, the inward-looking and populist movements in electoral politics worldwide make robust multilateralism more not less compelling. The selection of António Guterres as the ninth UN secretary-general should rekindle critical thinking about the potential for international cooperation. There is a desperate need to reinvigorate and update rather than jettison the United Nations in responding to threats from climate change to pandemics, from proliferation to terrorism. Weiss tells you why and how.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2018
3 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Thomas G. Weiss
72 books11 followersThomas G. Weiss is Presidential Professor of Political Science at The CUNY Graduate Center and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, where he is co-director of the UN Intellectual History Project. He is President (2009-10) of the International Studies Association, chair (2006-9) of the Academic Council on the UN System (ACUNS). His latest book is What's Wrong with the United Nations and How to Fix It (2009).
As Research Professor at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies (1990-98), he also held university administrative posts (Associate Dean of the Faculty, Director of the Global Security Program, Associate Director), was the Executive Director of ACUNS, and co-directed the Humanitarianism and War Project. Earlier, he was the Executive Director of the International Peace Academy (1985-9); a Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the UN Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva (1975-85); and held professional posts in the Office of the UN Commissioner for Namibia, the University Program at the Institute for World Order, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and International Labor Organization. He has been a consultant for foundations and numerous inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and was editor of Global Governance (2000-5) and research director of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (2000-2).
As Research Professor at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies (1990-98), he also held university administrative posts (Associate Dean of the Faculty, Director of the Global Security Program, Associate Director), was the Executive Director of ACUNS, and co-directed the Humanitarianism and War Project. Earlier, he was the Executive Director of the International Peace Academy (1985-9); a Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the UN Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva (1975-85); and held professional posts in the Office of the UN Commissioner for Namibia, the University Program at the Institute for World Order, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and International Labor Organization. He has been a consultant for foundations and numerous inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and was editor of Global Governance (2000-5) and research director of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (2000-2).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 14, 2024
A good and well written book, although I must admit, not mind-blowing.
It paints the UN picture with its true colours, presenting its strong points and weaknesses in a rather rational and objective way. UN -like the EU to an extent- has fallen victim to the public expectations, i.e. people expect it to deliver things that its member states have not authorised (nor conferred powers to) it to do. Therefore, many times is bound to fail -in the eyes of the public- by nature.
The author believes both that without the UN things would have been worse and that still, within the remit of its competence, UN could have performed better.
Peacekeeping, the universality of Human Rights, UN’s role in combatting climate change are some of the points highlighted as UN major contributions to a better world. On the other hand, recruitments many times are based on political and geographical criteria rather than merit, insufficient promotion of UN principles and more work to stabilise weak countries or insufficient attention to egalitarian suggestions are areas that UN could do better.
“UN’s main ailments are: unreconstructed state sovereignty, North-South theatrics, atomisation, lacklustre leadership.”
“It is easy to dismiss theatrical efforts like the July 2017 General Assembly decision to adopt the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons-without the participation of 70 member states, including all the P-5. It is harder to dismiss more pragmatic results, which is why we examined peacekeeping, good offices and cooperation with regional organisations.”
“The Security Council continues to authorise complex, multidimensional missions with robust mandates that authorise force to protect civilians but without adequate human and financial resources.”
“SG is an accepted abbreviation for the UN’s head, but it also stands for “scapegoat”, a prevalent function in world politics for both the secretary general and his organisation.”
It paints the UN picture with its true colours, presenting its strong points and weaknesses in a rather rational and objective way. UN -like the EU to an extent- has fallen victim to the public expectations, i.e. people expect it to deliver things that its member states have not authorised (nor conferred powers to) it to do. Therefore, many times is bound to fail -in the eyes of the public- by nature.
The author believes both that without the UN things would have been worse and that still, within the remit of its competence, UN could have performed better.
Peacekeeping, the universality of Human Rights, UN’s role in combatting climate change are some of the points highlighted as UN major contributions to a better world. On the other hand, recruitments many times are based on political and geographical criteria rather than merit, insufficient promotion of UN principles and more work to stabilise weak countries or insufficient attention to egalitarian suggestions are areas that UN could do better.
“UN’s main ailments are: unreconstructed state sovereignty, North-South theatrics, atomisation, lacklustre leadership.”
“It is easy to dismiss theatrical efforts like the July 2017 General Assembly decision to adopt the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons-without the participation of 70 member states, including all the P-5. It is harder to dismiss more pragmatic results, which is why we examined peacekeeping, good offices and cooperation with regional organisations.”
“The Security Council continues to authorise complex, multidimensional missions with robust mandates that authorise force to protect civilians but without adequate human and financial resources.”
“SG is an accepted abbreviation for the UN’s head, but it also stands for “scapegoat”, a prevalent function in world politics for both the secretary general and his organisation.”
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March 21, 2023long read, will keep going later
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews