The No-Nonsense Guide to the United Nations

(Paperback)

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The No-Nonsense Guide to the United Nations conveys the complexity of the UN, assesses its record, and considers options for reform.In the first book to distill the entire history of the United Nations into one accessible volume, Maggie Black explains how this complex organization works and explores its successes, failings and current limitations. It includes the UN creation and early history; how it is structured and whether it is well constituted in its functions; relief, development and law. She also considers possibilities for reform to make it more democratic, effective and fit for purpose.Throughout the book there is a particular focus on the core questions: How much can it do if its members are unwilling to provide the necessary resources, mechanisms, and mandateIt spends considerable resources on conducting global studies, conferences and reports but what actually does this international outpouring of words achieve Is the UN just a vast talking shop

Reviews

So what is the United Nations What are its component parts and how do they operate Who owns the organisation and to whom is it accountable What are its true capabilities This No-Nonsense Guide provides an excellent start to answering those questions, and many others...Maggie Black has written a number of No-Nonsense Guides to international issues, as well as books on water, development and children's rights. Her straightforward, readable approach to the United Nations as it is in real life provides a valuable opportunity to comprehend the gap between the reality and the perception of the UN, and what may be needed to make it effective in the most difficult areas of international misunderstanding. I hope that as many people as possible will read it...Sir Jeremy Greenstock, former UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Author Bio

Maggie Black has written books for OUP, UNICEF, and Oxfam. She has worked as a consultant for UNICEF, Anti-Slavery International, and WaterAid, among others, and has written for the Guardian, The Economist and BBC World Service