ABSTRACT
The focus of the north-south conflict over the role of existing specialized agencies within the process of global negotiations may help. In abstract terms, the conflict will be resolved when the Bretton Woods system or its successor learns to deal with the south's economic problems as well as it deals with the north's. The path away from substantive debate will lead to a longer history for the New International Economic Order (NIEO) ideology as third world governments transform their views in order to deal with their continuing conflict with the north. If the south does move away from its strategy the, NIEO ideology probably will contribute nothing to the resolution of the north-south conflict for some time. The NIEO's advocates may know some things about the world economy that adherents to the dominant ideology have never learned.
