Dimensions
155 x 235 x 24mm
In 60 years, the United Nations has won friends and enemies. Beginning with high hopes and ideals, it has improved world health, dealt with refugees and natural disasters, and even prevented some wars.
But it has failed the world, too: it has not protected the human rights of many people, or overcome poverty in many countries, or turned back the degradation of the environment, or controlled nations' resort to force with deadly weapons, or prevented genocide and terrorism. Many expect the UN to set a higher standard than national governments, but its record has been mixed and its most powerful members won't give it the resources it needs or update its structures.
The international community tried twice, after two world wars, to deal with global matters by setting up a global institution. To create another one, a third world war is unthinkable. So the world has no alternative but to give the UN a third try to work as it should. However, the UN's third try is being selectively blocked by the unilateralist policies of nations that were once its greatest supporters. They call for reform of the international system, but they demand one rule for themselves and another for everyone else. The US, with its ally, Australia, is leading this new rejectionism.
In 'The Third Try' two former diplomats, an American and an Australian, discuss how and why this is happening, and warn of dire consequences for the UN and world if it continues.
