ABSTRACT
In 1945 the UN was firmly anchored in the world of intergovern mental relations. Though the Preamble to the UN Charter begins with a ringing affirmation that “We the Peoples of the United Nations” are determined to create a better world, it ends with a shift of the active role to “our respective Governments” which agree to the Charter and establish the United Nations. While most of the Charter’s substantive and organ - iza tional provisions make sense only in an inter national system where autonomous states are the primary actors, it also includes intimations of a world in which states coexist with webs of transnational activity by individuals, groups, firms, and private organ iza - tions. Article 41 suggests that suspension or reduction of economic transactions, travel to or from, and communications to or from a state threatening inter national peace will help curb aggression; Article 71 creates the possibility of direct consultations between the UN Economic and Social Council and “non-govern mental organ iza tions which are concerned with matters within its competence”; and Article 87 establishes direct contact between the Trusteeship Council and the inhabitants of a Trust Territory as part of the scheme for UN supervision of state administration.
