ABSTRACT
Multilateral diplomacy in the early years of the twenty-first century reflects the challenges and stresses in the global political system. The nation-state itself, the cornerstone of the international system, is also yielding influence and authority, increasingly to nonstate actors, such as nongovernmental organizations and even to terrorist organizations. The single most important principle in UN diplomacy is sovereignty. In theory, sovereignty is exclusively related to the nation-state and enables an independent nation-state within recognized borders to establish its own rule of law without interference from other nation-states. Nation-states join the United Nations because it is synonymous with their unequivocal recognition as sovereign entities within the community of nations. The importance of the UN to small countries goes beyond the abstract issues of sovereignty. The United Nations is a practical solution to the political, financial, and/or human resources that are required to participate effectively in the international arena. The world has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War.
