Secretary or General The UN Secretary-General in World Politics [Paperback]

Examines the role of the United Nations Secretary-General and the ambiguities surrounding the position.The Secretary-General of the United Nations is a unique figure in world politics. Bringing together the insights of senior UN staff, diplomats, and scholars, Simon Chesterman examines the factors that shape this role and the ambiguities and tensions that surround it.The Secretary-General of the United Nations is a unique figure in world politics. Bringing together the insights of senior UN staff, diplomats, and scholars, Simon Chesterman examines the factors that shape this role and the ambiguities and tensions that surround it.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.Foreword Kofi A. Annan; Introduction Simon Chesterman; Part I. Defining and Refining the Job Description: 1. The evolution of the Secretary-General Brian E. Urquhart; 2. 'The most impossible job' description Shashi Tharoor; 3. Selecting the world's diplomat Colin Keating; Part II. Maintaining Peace and Security: 4. Relations with the Security Council James Cockayne and David M. Malone; 5. Good offices and 'groups of friends' Teresa Whil³>