ABSTRACT
In December 2000, after a 14-month campaign, the United States overcame nearly universal opposition at the un to win an agreement to lower American dues to the organization. The United States set out early on to formulate the strongest possible argument for dues reform on its merits. Recognizing that talk of a United Status dues cut prompted knee-jerk opposition, the United Status delegation quickly retooled, dropping talk of a rate reduction in favor of a push for broad reform of the entire financing system. During the dues campaign, US diplomats from the un traveled the world to lobby delegations during key decision-making congresses of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of African Unity. Power-point presentations and personal visits were not enough to sway staunch opponents to the dues reform agenda, however. Some delegations scoffed at what they deemed efforts to cloak a unilateral US agenda in the guise of un reforms.
