This new book covers the origins purposes, trends and controversies of the United Nations' global conferences. There are 30 such conferences to compare, and many argue that they have not been worth the money spent on them. Others, however, suggest that they offer the only effective way to address global problems, like racism, sexism, overpopulation, environmental degradation, overfishing, urbanization, and the proliferation of small arms. This is the first comprehensive study of this key topic, delivering information essential to the ongoing debate on multilateralism, with examinations of: * the typical structure of a conference * description of the Global Conferences * substantive and institutional outcomes of the conferences * changes resulting from the conferences * UN Conferences as mechanisms for coping with the problems of the 21st Century This book is essential reading for students of the United Nations, international organisation and global governance, as well as practitioners from non-governmental organizations.

The UN is able to recognize key global challenges, but beset by difficulties in trying to resolve them. In this, it represents the current global political balance, but is also the only international institution that could move it forward. Civil society can be a catalyst for this kind of change. In this book, Nora McKeon provides a comprehensive analysis of UN engagement with civil society. The book pays particular attention to food and agriculture, which now lie at the heart of global governance issues. McKeon shows that politically meaningful space for civil society can be introduced into UN policy dialogue. The United Nations and Civil Society also makes the case that it is only by engaging with organizations which legitimately speak for the 'poor' targeted by the Millennium Development Goals that the UN can promote equitable, sustainable development and build global democracy from the ground up. This book has strong ramifications for global governance, civil society and the contemporary debate over the future of food.

This book contains ten writings on different aspects of international law, each of them cross-referenced, in instances in which information in one is relevant to points made in another. The first essay considers the character of the subject, and its relation to other entities of relevance to it, such as its compatibility with national law and its relation to maritime law. The second one considers different types of legal instruments in settings of international law, and explains how to read a multilateral convention, using the Convention for the International Sale of Goods as an example. The third part discusses the characteristics of a state and the concept of recognition, the fourth reviews the various roles that institutions take in international law, concentrating in particular on major regional organisations, and the fifth explores the extent to which the World Trade Organisation and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade provide for developing countries. Essay Six summarises the framework for international labour law and investigates its contents and workings, then the seventh considers which countries predominate in the running of international institutions. The eighth paper explores how regional entities might co-operate with international institutions in the harmonisation of the law, and the ninth one investigates the place of negotiation as a method of international dispute resolution. Finally, the tenth essay considers the past, present and future of international law, and reviews especially the role of language.

The Collected Documents of The Group of 77 provides a chronological record of events and documents of the Group of 77 since its creation in 1963. This Sixth Volume is a special Fiftieth Anniversary Edition of The Group of 77 at the United Nations launched to coincide with the fiftieth year since the establishment of the Group of 77 with the objective of furthering the documentary process and its institutional memory. This compilation provides a chronological record of the main documents adopted by the Group of 77 since its creation in 1964, with a special focus on all major events of the Group of 77 that took place during the period 1964-2014. The Group of 77 has devoted five decades working to achieve development. It adheres to the principle that nations, big and small, deserve an equal voice in world affairs. Today the Group of 77 remains linked by common geography and a shared history of struggle for liberation, freedom and south-south solidarity. In its 50 years, the Group of 77 has solidified the global South as a coalition of nations, aspiring for a global partnership for peace and development. The Group of 77 is recognized for its work to promote international cooperation for development towards a prosperous and peaceful world. The commitment and dedication of the Group of 77 in selflessly shaping world affairs has benefited billions of lives worldwide.