Handbook

The United Nations (UN) has been central to global politics and world order since it was first established in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War to prevent another devastating war, and its responsibilities and activities today span many of the most pressing global security and development challenges. This course examines the past, present and future of the UN, focusing on how it shapes and is, in turn, shaped by broader global forces. It introduces students to the basic history, organisation and functions of the world organisation; it undertakes a critical survey of the efforts of the UN to prevent war, protect human rights and promote development; and it engages with key debates about how the UN may be reformed to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.