ABSTRACT
The establishment of the United Nations (UN) in the closing days of World War II was an affirmation of the desire of war-weary nations for an organization that could help them avoid future conflicts and promote international economic and social cooperation. To understand the links between world politics and the United Nations, it is also important to examine the major international relations theories to see how they explain global changes and the roles of international intergovernmental organizations such as the UN. The reality remains that "the capacity to mobilize the resources necessary to tackle global problems also remains vested in states, therefore effectively incapacitating many international institutions." The need for inclusiveness presents several dilemmas for the UN. There is a renewed focus not only on advocating for excluded groups but also on including them. The chapter also presents an overview of this book.
