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American Reference Books Annual 2005
Reference Reviews, September 2004
Review from:
American Reference Books
Annual 2005
As part of H.W. Wilson's Reference Shelf series,
this 2004 volume is devoted to the timely subject of the United Nations.
Perhaps more than any other time in recent history, the United Nations is
a familiar subject to most Americans. It is not surprising that this is
the topic of the annual debating tournament involving students nationwide.
As with other works in the series, this volume is a compilation of
excerpts from books, reprints of articles, and reports presented in five
separate sections, each with an editor’s introduction. The first section
describes the origin of the United Nations and the major efforts it has
made to fulfill its mission. The second section covers UN programs and the
work of the specialized agencies. Section 3 looks at the history of UN
peacekeeping, and political and humanitarian interventions in such areas
as the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, East Timor, and Afghanistan. Section 4
analyzes the relationship between the United States and the United
Nations, described as “a troubled affair,” while the last section focuses
on questions of reform and the future of the United Nations. The appendix
includes a bibliography of over 30 books, a list of related websites, a
selection of relevant articles with lengthy abstracts, and an index.
The works chosen for inclusion were taken from a variety
of carefully selected sources, such as the Journal of International
Affairs and the Economist, and written by those considered experts in
their fields. The volume presents an excellent overview of the United
Nations, while at the same time raising pertinent questions for
discussion. It is a valuable tool not only for those students preparing
for the national debates, but for all students and general readers as
well.
Review from:
Reference Reviews, September 2004
The role of the U.N. and its
relationship to the U.S. and our politics is often questioned. For many
years the U.S. neglected to pay its financial dues and in 2001 the U.S.
was voted out of several U.N. subcommittees. This volume gives a basic
background on the establishment of the U.N., its origins and major
efforts. Other chapters cover "The Work of U.N. Programs and Specialized
Agencies," "A History of Intervention," "The U.S. and the U.N. — A
Troubled Affair" and "Questions of Reform and the U.N.'s Future." Each
chapter begins with an editor's introduction and the selected articles
that follow are found in excellent resources and are written by recognized
authorities. Of particular interest are the events surrounding the U.N.
and Iraq and the details of the inability of the U.S. to garner U.N.
support. A list of the members of the United Nations and their year of
entry, a two-page bibliography, two pages of Web sites and six pages of
annotated periodical articles complete the book. Depending upon the size
of your debate team and the assignments that may be made on this topic by
other teachers, it might be wise to consider the purchase of two copies.
Highly recommended. |
