Invisible Governance: International Secretariats in Global PoliticsInternational public servants and their far-reaching secretariats receive little press attention when nation-states take the spotlight in significant international events, which is why author John Mathiason and others commonly refer to them as invisible. But secretariats’ activities are constantly shaping the course of history with inspectors determining whether uranium enrichment in Iran is for peaceful purposes, maintaining surveillance on a possible bird flu epidemic (the World Health Organization), raising alarms about starvation in Zimbabwe (the World Food Programme), or passing judgment on former heads of state and military officers in the Balkans (the United Nations war crimes tribunal). Having served as a member of the United Nations Secretariat for 25 years, author John Mathiason offers a unique behind-the-scenes view, taking readers through of the life and duties of an international public servant. Through personal accounts and extensive knowledge of a variety of international organizations, Mathiason covers the implications of being an influential, but "invisible" entity. He charts the difficulties in documenting scope and accountability, the issues such as disarmament, human rights, and environmental protection that he encountered while serving at the secretariat and charts the history of these dynamic and expansive entities present in every crucial event of the past century. By looking at the international public sector as an actor in its own right, Invisible Governance provides a new perspective on the workings of the international system and tools and approaches for ensuring that the system works effectively and with accountability. |
Contents
Human Rights the Internet the Environment the Seas | 87 |
Human Rights Weapons of Mass Destruction War Crimes | 133 |
Providing Services for Peace and Security | 149 |
Providing Humanitarian Relief | 175 |
Managing the International Economy and Social | 193 |
How the International Public Sector Manages Itself | 225 |
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Invisible Governance: International Secretariats in Global Politics John Mathiason No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
administrative agreed agreements appointed Assembly assessed assistance budget career civil servants Commission Committee Conference consensus convention coordination deal developing countries Economic and Social ensure established executive heads experience force function funds global governments Hammarskjöld human rights humanitarian IAEA implement increasing institutions intergovernmental international civil service international organizations international public sector international secretariats Internet involved Iraq issues Kofi Annan League major Mathiason ment mission Mohammed ElBaradei Namibia negotiations NGOs norm enforcement nuclear organiza parties peace and security peacekeeping peacekeeping operation personnel political posts problems refugees regime regime theory responsibility retariat role secre secretariat staff secretary-general Security Council specialized agencies staff members statistics tariat ternational theory tion tional trade treaty Trygve Lie UN Secretariat UNCTAD UNDP UNHCR UNICEF United Nations Secretariat United Nations system Urquhart weapons Women World Bank YES MINISTER