The United Nations in International History

325 Pages·2017·2.954 MB·English

by  Amy L. Sayward

The UniTed n aTions in
inTernaTional his Tory
New Approaches to International History
Series Editor: Thomas Zeiler, Professor of american diplomatic history, University of
Colorado Boulder, Usa
Series Editorial Board:
anthony adamthwaite, University of California at Berkeley (Usa)
Kathleen Burk, University College london (UK)
louis Clerc, University of Turku (Finland)
Petra Goedde, Temple University (Usa)
Francine McKenzie, University of Western ontario (Canada)
lien-hang nguyen, University of Kentucky (Usa)
Jason Parker, Texas a&M University (Usa)
Glenda sluga, University of sydney (australia)
New Approaches to International History covers international history during the modern
period and across the globe. The series incorporates new developments in the field, such
as the cultural turn and transnationalism, as well as the classical high politics of state-
centric policymaking and diplomatic relations. Written with upper level undergraduate
and postgraduate students in mind, texts in the series provide an accessible overview of
international diplomatic and transnational issues, events and actors.
Published:
deColoniZaTion and The Cold War
edited by Leslie James and Elisabeth Leake (2015)
Cold War sUMMiTs
by Chris Tudda (2015)
Forthcoming:
laTin aMeriCan naTionalisM
by James F. Siekmeier
The hisTory oF UniTed sTaTes CUlTUral diPloMaCy
by Michael L. Krenn
inTernaTional CooPeraTion in The early 20Th CenTUry
by Daniel Gorman
The inTernaTional lGBT riGhTs MoVeMenT
by Laura Belmonte
reConsTrUCTinG The PosTWar World
by Francine McKenzie
The UniTed n aTions in
inTernaTional his Tory
Amy L. Sayward
Bloomsbury academic
an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
LONDON • OXFORD • NEW YORK • NEW DELHI • SYDNEY
Bloomsbury Academic
An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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www.bloomsbury.com
BLOOMSBURY and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published 2017
© Amy L. Sayward, 2017
Amy L. Sayward has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act,
1988, to be identified as Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information
storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or
refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be
accepted by Bloomsbury or the author.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: HB: 978-1-4725-0883-6
PB: 978-1-4725-1003-7
ePDF: 978-1-4725-1060-0
ePub: 978-1-4725-1322-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
Series: New Approaches to International History
Cover design: Catherine Wood
Cover image: USA, New York, NYC, the Interior of the United Nations Building, the
Marc Chagall stained glass window "Peace and Man" © AGF Srl/Alamy Stock Photo
Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
To my graduate students, who have taught me so much.
Thank you for choosing me to join you in your intellectual journey.
Leah Vallely
Darrin Haas
Heather Scheurer
James Derrick
Hasan Karayam
Jennie Epp
Jeanna Kinnebrew
Abby Gautreau
Angie Sirna
Evan Buchanan
Kevin Smith
Jessi Klinedinst
Amy Rohmiller
Carolyn Powell
Ashleigh Oatts
Chris Barker
Howard Flemings
Chris Thrasher
Chris Adams
Tara Mielnik
Jerry Colley
Tom Carter
Alex Johnson
Walt Litaker
Marc Hill
vi
ConTenT s
list of Figures, Cover art, and online resources viii
series editor’s Preface ix
Preface and acknowledgments xi
list of abbreviations xiii
1 Introduction: An Invitation 1
2 The National and International Origins of the United Nations 7
3 The Cold War Borderland 21
4 Preventing War and Promoting Peace through Social and
Economic Programs 55
5 The Development Enterprise 83
6 Making and Keeping the Peace: U.N. Peacekeeping and
Refugee Assistance Operations 121
Jeanna Kinnebrew and Amy L. Sayward
7 The Middle East and the United Nations 149
8 Defining Human Rights, International Justice, and Genocide 183
Amy L. Sayward with assistance from Alexandrea Collins
9 Conclusion: Join the Conversation! 219
Guide to Further research 221
notes 222
index 288
lisT oF FiGUres
Figure 7.1 Map of the Middle east 147
Figure 7.2 israel and its neighbors 148
CoVer ar T
This “Peace Window” was a memorial gift to the United nations from French artist
Marc Chagall and the staff of the United nations in memory of secretary-General dag
hammarskjöld. it was dedicated on the third anniversary of his death, september 17,
1964. as such, it represents the history of the organization under consideration in this
volume. But it also is indicative of the ways in which various people have sought to create
and symbolize the meaning of the physical space of the United nations, which this book
argues created a borderland between nations for the exchange and development of ideas,
meanings, and actions throughout the organization’s history.
online resoUrCes
online resources to accompany this book are available at: www.bloomsbury.com/the-
united-nations-in-international-history-9781472510037. Please type the Url into
your web browser and follow the instructions to access the Companion Website. if you
experience any problems, please contact Bloomsbury at: [email protected]
series ediT or’s PreFaCe
New Approaches to International History takes the entire world as its stage for exploring
the history of diplomacy, broadly conceived theoretically and thematically, and writ large
across the span of the globe, during the modern period. This series goes beyond the single
goal of explaining encounters in the world. our aspiration is that these books provide both
an introduction for researchers new to a topic, and supplemental and essential reading in
classrooms. Thus, New Approaches serves a dual purpose that is unique from other large-
scale treatments of international history; it applies to scholarly agendas and pedagogy. in
addition, it does so against the backdrop of a century of enormous change, conflict, and
progress that informed global history but also continues to reflect on our own times.
The series offers the old and new diplomatic history to address a range of topics
that shaped the twentieth century. engaging in international history (including but not
especially focusing on global or world history), these books will appeal to a range of
scholars and teachers situated in the humanities and social sciences, including those
in history, international relations, cultural studies, politics, and economics. We have in
mind scholars, both novice and veteran, who require an entrée into a topic, trend, or
technique that can benefit their own research or education into a new field of study by
crossing boundaries in a variety of ways.
By its broad and inclusive coverage, New Approaches to International History is also
unique because it makes accessible to students current research, methodology, and
themes. incorporating cutting-edge scholarship that reflects trends in international
history, as well as addressing the classical high politics of state-centric policymaking and
diplomatic relations, these books are designed to bring alive the myriad of approaches for
digestion by advanced undergraduates and graduate students. in preparation for the New
Approaches series, Bloomsbury surveyed courses and faculty around the world to gauge
interest and reveal core themes of relevance for their classroom use. The polling yielded
a host of topics, from war and peace to the environment; from empire to economic
integration; and from migration to nuclear arms. The effort proved that there is a much-
needed place for studies that connect scholars and students alike to international history,
and books that are especially relevant to the teaching missions of faculty around the world.
We hope readers find this series to be appealing, challenging, and thought provoking.
Whether the history is viewed through older or newer lenses, New Approaches to
International History allows students to peer into the modern period’s complex relations
among nations, people, and events to draw their own conclusions about the tumultuous,
interconnected past.
Thomas Zeiler,
University of Colorado Boulder, USA