An Insider's Guide to the UN

Front Cover
Yale University Press, Jan 1, 2004 - Political Science - 245 pages

The United Nations increasingly finds itself at the center of world events in an age of rapid globalization. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we understand its structure and functions. In this highly readable book, a prominent news correspondent at the UN provides a colorful introduction to its activities and goals.
UN correspondent Linda Fasulo draws on her own observations as well as on the insights of other individuals who have been active in the UN, including US ambassadors Richard Holbrooke, Madeleine Albright, and John Negroponte. She explains how the UN came into existence, what governing principles guide its operation, and what it is like to be a participant. She describes the organization, responsibilities, and often-tense politics of the Security Council. Surveying the many humanitarian, crime-fighting, and peacekeeping programs of the UN, Fasulo concludes that there are important reasons for Americans to give the United Nations their support.

 

Contents

An Overview
1
UN Founding Documents
14
The Secretary General and the Secretariat
17
The American Ambassadors
33
The Security Council
39
Peace Operations
52
The General Assembly
68
Coordinating to Fight International Terrorism
79
Agencies Programs and Commissions
158
Rule of Law and Human Rights
161
Social and Economic Development
168
Protecting the Biosphere and Its Inhabitants
178
UN to the Rescue
183
Nuclear Biological and Chemical Threats
188
Guiding Globalization How the UN Helps Make Things Work
191
Drug Trafficking
197

The UN Village
90
Rights versus Sovereignty The US and the International Criminal Court
100
The Call for Reform
105
UN Finances
114
A Tour of UN Headquarters
125
The Coup Against BoutrosGhali
134
UN Advocates Donors and Friends
139
Keeping Tabs on How Nations Vote
145
Making a Career at the UN
148
ECOSOC
153
Conclusion
203
Membership of Principal United Nations Organs in 2002
205
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
208
UN Member States
215
How to Set Up a Model UN Meeting
221
Sources
229
Further Reading
231
Index
237
Copyright

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About the author (2004)

Linda Fasulo is UN correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC and a longtime contributor to National Public Radio.

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