This extensively revised, updated, and expanded edition takes into account a wide range of events: the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet system in eastern Europe in 1989 and the ensuing demise of the Warsaw Pact, the conflict in the Gulf in 1990/1, the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, the comprehensive or partial settlement of several regional conflicts, growing civil strife in several parts of the world, the rapid expansion of UN peacekeeping and election-monitoring activities, and the development of UN and other international activities for the protection of the environment. It also discusses new debates, writings, and sources. There are four completely new chapters: those by Patricia Birnie, Sally Morphet, Brian Urquhart, and Peter Wilenski, and, in addition, Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali's important 1992 report An Agenda for Peace, to which he has added an introduction for this book.
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Oxford academic Adam Roberts, long considered the most influential expert on the subject of the UN system, has produced an excellent book, with great academic rigour, very comprenehsive, and very concise (or at least as concise as it could possibly be, given the enormous amount and variety of issues covered therein). With great ability, the author manages to highlight the positive and negative sides of the UN system and its work, criticizing them where appropriate and by giving very thorough explanations, and praising them in other respects. It offers information and analysis on the major challenges confronted by the UN in the recent past, and those likely to arise in the near future. The book is an absolute must for anyone wishing to know more on the UN system. It is suitable both for those intending to learn the basics, and those who are on a start of deep research work on the subject. It is a serious academic study, yet easy to read and even enjoyable.