Secretary Or General?: The UN Secretary-General in World Politics (Google eBook)

Simon Chesterman

Cambridge University Press, Feb 19, 2007 - Law - 280 pages

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is a unique figure in world politics. At once civil servant, the world's diplomat, lackey of the UN Security Council, and commander-in-chief of up to a hundred thousand peacekeepers, he or she depends on states for both the legitimacy and resources that enable the United Nations to function. The tension between these roles - of being secretary or general - has challenged every incumbent. This book brings together the insights of senior UN staff, diplomats and scholars to examine the normative and political factors that shape this unique office with particular emphasis on how it has evolved in response to changing circumstances such as globalization and the onset of the 'war on terror'. The difficulties experienced by each Secretary-General reflect the profound ambivalence of states towards entrusting their security, interests or resources to an intergovernmental body.

Contents

• CONTRIBUTORS: vii
• FOREWORD: xi

About the author

Simon Chesterman is Global Professor and Director of the New York University School of Law Singapore Programme, and an Associate Professor of Law at the National University of Singapore. He has previously worked as a Senior Associate at the International Peace Academy and as Director of UN Relations at the International Crisis Group in New York. His books include Shared Secrets: Intelligence and Collective Security (2006), You, The People: The United Nations, Transitional Administration, and State-Building (2004), and Just War or Just Peace? Humanitarian Intervention and International Law (2001).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Secretary Or General?: The UN Secretary-General in World Politics
• Editor: Simon Chesterman
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2007
• ISBN: 1139463268, 9781139463263
• Length: 280 pages
• Subjects: Law / International; Political Science / International Relations / Diplomacy; Political Science / International Relations / General; Political Science / Public Affairs & Administration