Encyclopedia of the United Nations (Facts on File Library of World History) - Hardcover

The United Nations was created as a response to the sufferings caused by World War II. The goal of the organization, as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, was "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." That goal is as vital today as it was in 1945. While other structures of the Cold War era have disappeared or have undergone major revisions, the UN has gained increasing importance as a collective security response to the challenges emerging in this new millennium. In this new era of international politics, the United Nations has taken on numerous global issues, such as terrorism, economic dislocation, disintegrating states, human rights violations, environmental degradation, and ethnic and religious hatred. "The Encyclopedia of the United Nations" is a comprehensive guide to the world body's institutions, procedures, policies, specialized agencies, historic personalities, initiatives, and involvement in world affairs. Organized in an easy-to-use, A-to-Z format, this book places major world events - and the role that the United Nations played in them-into context through concise references, longer explanatory essays, and detailed data on the UN.