ABSTRACT
In the United Nations proper a new majority of third world countries has come to dominate the agenda and challenge the views and policies promulgated by the United States and the West. The often bewildering panoply of interconnected international institutions reflects, in large measure, the needs of an international system with many actors of varying capabilities and conflicting needs centralized decision-making structure. Subsequent adaptation of institutions and behavior has become necessary and has already begun. In dealing with the problems of interdependence—energy, raw material supplies, inflation, economic instability, food, the maintenance of peace and security—the United States has a variety of institutions to choose from. Some issues may be dealt with entirely among the developed nations through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Others may require a universal approach, and on some issues there may be options for using the UN system or other consortia of cooperative nations.
