Review

General Books

Stephen Ryan's brief historical analysis of the United Nation's contributions to peacemaking begins with the following observation: "Perhaps no other international organization has had invested in it so much hope for a better world or has provoked so much disappointment by its own shortcomings." (p.1) Consisting of six chapters and a conclusion, the book covers the UN's history in chronological fashion. Ryan initiates his discussion with the historical background of the UN's establishment. Much of this is familiar to historians. He then moves to an analysis of the Cold War, pointing out how the superpower rivalry worked against the organization's collective security mechanism and arguing that "any restraint shown by the superpowers tended to be self-restraint, induced by the existence of nuclear weapons and the fear of mutual destruction." (p. 49) A lively and informative discussion of the Secretaries-General—Lie, Hammarskjold, U. Thant, and Waldhiem—occupies a major portion of the book. Ryan is effective in noting the differences in their styles of crisis management. Rarely, however, were the Secretaries-General successful in brokering cooperation between the two competing blocs.	1
Ryan discusses the growing dissatisfaction with the UN on the part of the Reagan Administration. Growing US suspicion was brought about by "a changing balance between the developed western states and the newly independent states of the third world." (p.78) Increasingly, the US took issue with the UN regarding such matters as Israeli-American relations and the General Assembly's condemnation of the invasion of Grenada. Resulting US criticisms, Ryan observes, led to the US's withdrawal from UNESCO and rejection of rulings by the International Court of Justice, as well as later refusal to pay its dues in a timely manner. At the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, however, renewed cooperation between the UN and the United States had been forged involving issues like the Namibian operation, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Cambodia.	2
The final part of the book can be summarized in two words: cautious optimism. Ryan offers a sobering assessment of the UN's failures involving genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Somalia, and human rights violations in Bosnia and Croatia. He also notes the inability of the UN to play a role in the former Yugoslavia, bowing instead to pressures from NATO. The outbreaks of mass killings troubles him, and the UN's "reluctance to respond to genocide can be seen as a symptom of a more general indisposition to deal with the protection of ethnic minorities." (p.142) Although such inaction has hurt the UN's image, Ryan does find hope in the organization's response to "Welfare Internationalism." By this he means that the UN's work in world health—AIDS research, refugees, illiteracy, and environmental concerns represent the new, positive direction the organization has undertaken as it enters the new century. But, as Ryan warns, an analysis of 251 international crises between 1945 and 1985 shows "that the UN's role was much less consequential than the roles played by the two superpowers, and the involvement of the UN was never the decisive factor in crisis abatement." (pp. 165–66) Do we throw in the towel? Ryan says no. With increased funding, a better quality of administration, and more diverse representation on the Security Council (sixty percent are from the Western states) Ryan believes it would be possible for the UN to uphold its worthy aspirations and play a vital role in the realm of international politics.	3
Ryan's book is a useful addition to the literature on the history of peacekeeping organizations. Advanced high school students and undergraduates in history and political science will find this modest book rewarding. Ryan has succeeded in his objective: allowing readers to evaluate the UN based on the historical record. If there is one aspect the book does not address, it is Ryan's failure to include a discussion on the influence of peace groups and peace activists. Peace movements of the past century have been successful in educating the public that peace itself is more than the absence of war, or that it rests solely on national security. That aside, this is a well-written and easily readable book that reinforces the belief that the quest for lasting peace is worth the effort.	4
Amityville (NY) Public Schools Adelphi University Charles F. Howlett

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