United Nations law, politics, and practice

"The main purpose of this book is to provide readers with sufficient information on the UN's evolution, institutional structure, functioning, and activities in order to enable them to form their own views about the strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures of the UN. This book examines how the organization strives to achieve its primary goal "to maintain international peace and security" and its secondary goal "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights; to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained; and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom." This book neither vaunts the merits of the United Nations nor plays down its flaws; it describes historical developments and the performance of the organization from the author's perspective. It focuses on both what happened and why it happened. This book is different from those currently available on the market in many respects. First, it presents a detailed historical account of important events that shaped the United Nations under different Secretaries-General. Second, it covers not only legal aspects of the organization but also its politics and practice from an insider's viewpoint. Third, it is intended for a diverse audience. Students, professors, lawyers, diplomats, international public servants, people aspiring to work for the United Nations, or those with any interest in the world organization, international relations, or international law will find this book useful."--