The United Nations in the 21st Century

The United Nations in the 21st Century, Sixth Edition, provides a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the UN. It explores the historical, institutional, and theoretical foundations of the UN as well as major global trends and challenges facing the organization today, including changing major power dynamics, new threats to peace and security, the migration and refugee crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the existential challenges of climate change and sustainability. Thoroughly revised and expanded, it contains two new chapters on the UN and the environment and on human security, including issues of health, food security, global migration, and human trafficking. There is enhanced analysis of theoretical perspectives on post-colonialism, feminist theory, constructivism, and non-Western views. New content has also been added on the UN’s budget crisis, public–private partnerships, and the role of women in the organization. By examining the UN as an intergovernmental organization facing the broader need for global cooperation to address economic, social, and environmental interdependencies alongside the threats posed by rising nationalism and populism, this popular text is the perfect reference for all students and practitioners of international organizations, global governance, and international relations.

1 The United Nations in World Politics The United Nations in World Politics: Vision and Reality Contending International Relations Theories Dilemmas the UN Faces Conclusion 2 The Evolution of the United Nations System The League of Nations The Origins of the United Nations The Organization of the United Nations Global Conferences and Summits Persistent Organizational Problems and the Challenges of Reform Conclusion 3 Actors in the United Nations System The Role of States: The First UN Coalitions, Blocs, and the Importance of Consensus The Secretary-General and the UN Secretariat as Key Actors: The Second UN Nonstate Actors: The Third UN Conclusion 4 Maintaining International Peace and Security Linking International Relations Theories Maintaining Peace and Security: The UN Charter and Its Evolution Mechanisms for Peaceful Settlement and Preventive Diplomacy Collective Security, Enforcement, and Sanctions Peace Operations: Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Humanitarian Intervention—R2P and POC—Providing Human Security Arms Control and Disarmament Countering Terrorism Dilemmas the UN Faces Conclusion 5 Economic, Human, and SustainableDevelopment The Organization and Approaches of the UN System for Promoting Development Operational Activities and Functional Divisions by Issue Areas The UN and Evolving Ideas About Development The UN and Other Actors Lessons Learned Dilemmas the UN Faces 6 Advancing International Human Rights From the League of Nations to the United Nations UN Charter Principles and Organizational Structures The Role of the UN in Human Rights The Role of Nongovernmental Organizations The Role of Celebrities Case Studies of the UN System in Action Efforts to Address Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and War Crimes Evaluating the UN’s Human Rights Record Dilemmas the UN Faces 7 Protection of the Environment Genesis of an Idea: The Stockholm Conference The Institutional Framework for Environmental Protection Comparing UN System Initiatives on Ozone Depletion and Climate Change Protecting Biological Diversity Dilemmas the UN Faces 8 Human Security: Health, Food, Migration, and Trafficking An Expanded View of Security The UN, Health, and Human Security The UN and Efforts to Ensure Food Security The UN and the Refugee and Migration Crisis Dilemmas the UN Faces 9 Is There a Future for the United Nations? Does the UN Make a Difference? Lessons About What the UN Cannot Do Factors in UN Success and Failure Can the UN Be Reformed? Linking the UN to Global Governance Appendix: Charter of the United Nations (Selected Sections)

Karen A. Mingst is Professor Emerita at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and the political science department at the University of Kentucky. Margaret P. Karns is Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of Dayton and Senior Fellow in global governance and human security at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Alynna J. Lyon is Professor of Political Science and Faculty Fellow, Office of SeniorVice Provost, Engagement and FacultyDevelopmentat the University of New Hampshire.