This book is the tenth volume in the United Nations Intellectual History Project. It covers the concept of preventive diplomacy at the UN, making it one of the few works in the series on the peace and security functions of the UN. After describing preventive diplomacy before the UN's formation, Ramcharan (international human rights law, Geneva Graduate Institute of International Studies) focuses on the work of the Security Council and the first seven Secretaries-General. This is followed by an informative chapter on Secretary-General U Thant's role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, perhaps the high point of UN preventive diplomatic negotiation. Subsequent chapters focus on preventive diplomacy by representatives of the Secretary-General, by UN subregional offices (e.g., in West Africa), by UN peacekeepers or observers, and by regional organizations. The author also broadens the concept's application of preventive diplomacy to economic, social, and human rights; to humanitarian affairs; and to genocide, terrorism, and nontraditional threats such as organized crime or nuclear smuggling. By broadening the notion of prevention, he argues for the relevance of the UN system. In the end, however, this is mostly a summary of UN speeches, memoranda, reports, and talking points that will not convince skeptics of the UN. Summing Up: Optional. Graduate and research collections.
ChoiceS. Waalkes, Malone College, Feb. 2009 "A superb work of scholarship by one of the most versatile scholar/practitioners of the UN." -Margaret Vogt, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs "No task is more fundamental to the United Nations than the prevention and resolution of deadly conflict. Prevention, in particular, must be central to all our efforts. -Kofi Annan, former UN Secretar" -General