At a time when the United Nations demonstrates new vitality, this book provides essential background of nearly 50 years of the world organization's experience. It sets out the fundamental features of the structure of the UN, and traces the political developments around such topics as maintaining international peace, protecting human rights and improving economic welfare. Peter Baehr is the author of "Policy Analysis and Policy Innovation", "The Role of National Delegation in the General Assembly" and "The Netherlands and the United Nations: Selected Issues" and Leon Gordenker is the author of "Refugees in International Politics", "International Aid and National Decisions", "The United Nations in International Politics" and "The UN Secretary-General and the Maintenance of Peace". He co-edited "The Challenging Role of the UN Secretary-General".