Despite limited legal power, the job of the United Nations secretary-general has evolved into that of an often-effective global leader and mediator. When the Security Council is blocked - and sometimes even when it isn't - the UN's top official has played a key role in resolving international disputes. This book looks at the varied ways that the eight secretaries-general -- from risk-takers to cautious conservatives - have used their position to pursue the common goal of a more peaceful world.

For years the United States has treated the United Nations as an extension of its own foreign policy, while other member states--especially smaller, less influential countries--have looked to the United Nations to represent their collective interests. This conflict escalated in the fall of 1996, when the United States unilaterally decided to deny Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali a second term. In this book Boutros-Ghali argues that U.S. policy toward the United Nations threatens the fragile fabric of the international organization. By selectively consulting the Security Council, the United States has frequently condemned the United Nations to the status of scapegoat in international affairs, notably during peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Somalia, and Rwanda. Meanwhile, the United Nations's financial crisis persists as the United States fails to pay its bills while seeking to further increase its already considerable influence within the organization. In October 1995 President Clinton lavishly praised Boutros-Ghali for his "outstanding leadership," and thanked him for his "vision." Yet, a mere four months later, the Clinton administration decided that Boutros-Ghali would have to go. What happened in that short time to convince the United States that the secretary-general was now a liability? United States domestic electoral politics were decisive: While campaigning for the primaries, Bob Dole was scoring heavily by repeatedly ridiculing Boutros-Ghali. To neutralize Dole's challenge, Clinton denied the controversial secretary-general a second term, vetoing his reelection in the Security Council despite unanimous support from its other members. Boutros-Ghali reveals the dramatic conflict and the personalities involved and considers the future of the United Nations in light of American domination.

Based on exclusive interviews with the United Nations Secretary-General himself, this is the first book to explain how António Guterres thinks and operates, in an era of renewed great power competition and rising nationalism. The UN leader was re-elected for a second term starting in 2022; yet, after five years in the job, Guterres' discreet diplomacy continues to intrigue even politicians, diplomats and analysts. Honest Broker introduces a world leader to the world public, revealing Guterres' profound religion convictions, and his views on issues as wide-ranging as women's rights, gay rights, global terrorism and the political influence of social media. Pedro Latoeiro and Filipe Domingues tell the story of an extraordinary life, from Guterres' long association with the Clintons, and the mistakes and defeats that led to his resignation as Portuguese prime minister; to his decade advocating for the world's most vulnerable as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the diplomatic plotting to sabotage his candidacy for the top job. Through over 120 interviews about Guterres' life and career before he became Secretary-General, speaking with several former heads of state or government and senior UN officials, the authors help us understand what can be expected from the head of the United Nations as he confronts the challenges of the 2020s.

This key resource for anyone interested in the United Nations, global issues, or world politics provides accessible and comprehensive coverage of the history, growth, and development of ideas and institutions governing the globe. The United Nations has been an essential actor in world politics for 75 years. Its entities have eliminated smallpox, protected the ozone layer, promoted arms control, and helped to save the lives of over 90 million children. Yet, it is frequently criticized as ineffective and antiquated. This book provides a balanced and systematic overview of the UN's contributions and challenges, highlighting areas where it plays an essential role in global governance as well as areas of redundancy and needed reform. This book provides readers with a clear, well-organized reference resource to the entire UN system-its principal organs, specialized agencies, programs and funds, and key issues of engagement. Through individual entries, it examines the history of UN engagement, ranging from peace and security to migration and climate change. It moves beyond a simple description of UN entities as it assesses the development of ideas (such as that of sustainable development), as well as responses to changes in world politics. Finally, it presents both the significant successes of UN work and continued challenges.

Kofi Annan was the most significant and influential Secretary-General of the United Nations. Kofi Annan and Global Leadership at the United Nations is a study of how Annan conceived his role as Secretary-General and exercised global leadership at a turbulent period in world affairs. Williams discusses the challenges he faced during his tenure from 1997 to 2006 and how he dealt with them. The volume sheds light on the importance of leadership for the performance of a global institution, and examines such issues as Conflict Prevention, Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding, the Millennium Development Goals, HIV/AIDS, the Responsibility to Protect, Human Rights, Climate Change, and Migration. It provides insight into how Annan led the UN during several international crises, including the terrorist attacks of 9/11, conflicts in Kosovo and East Timor, and the war in Iraq. It illustrates how he built partnerships with non-state actors, including nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, universities, think tanks, and Nobel laureates in order to advance the UN's mission without relying exclusively on state power and inter-state cooperation. Kofi Annan and Global Leadership at the United Nations charts Annan's ambitious efforts to reform and adapt the UN to the needs of the twenty-first century. It is a pathbreaking and authoritative volume and a union of scrupulous scholarship and insider knowledge of the UN.

The UN and Development provides the first comprehensive overview of the development policies and activities of the United Nations system from the late 1940s to the present. With an explicit focus on the history of the ideas that have been generated, institutionalized, and implemented by UN organizations, this book examines changing trends in development paradigms from the concept of technical assistance to underdeveloped countries, as they were called in the late 1940s, to development cooperation in the 21st century. Olav Stokke traces this fascinating story and demonstrates the UN's essential role and its future challenges in aiding the least developed countries and the globe's billion poorest inhabitants.

Founded at the end of World War II in 1945, the United Nations was created to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations on equal terms, and encourage international cooperation in solving intractable human problems.