As an individual who is very socially conscious and believes in humanitarian efforts, I just naturally saw the United Nations as a benevolent body that did good work through out the world. I was intrigued by the title of this book alone; Tower of Babble; How the United Nations has Fueled Global Chaos.
Author Dore Gold looks into ways that the United Nations has failed to live up to the goals of the institution which is to have an overall governing body for peace through out the world. He highlights the lack of response during the Rwandan genocide and the massacre in Srebrenica. The institution itself is a lofty ideal which came about after the atrocities of WWII. After Hitler rampaged his way through Europe conducting mass casualties along the way the Allies came together and formed the United Nations in an effort to prevent anything like what the world just witnessed from happening again.
The idea that the nations of the world, all with their different governments and ideals can be overseen by a single institution is grounded in difficulties and bound to cause failures in its applications. Every nation has there objectives and is willing to do what it takes to see them through. What is in the best interest of the U.S. is not the same as for Great Britain. You would think however that the idea of global peace would be pretty universal, but don't forget that the UN is, after all, a government agency and nothing in government is clear cut.
In theory the United Nations is a great institution. It promotes world peace and stability while holding all the governments involved accountable for their actions. In practice however there are some severe flaws that have lead to inaction on the part of the institution and if you agree with Dore Gold, the worsening of world conflicts.
Keep in mind that one authors opinion is not fact and the United Nations is much more complicated then one book can describe. Read objectively and research the matter fully to come to your own conclusions. It is good to read multiple sources on matters of facts and this is just one source.
Tower of Babble; How the United Nations has fueled global Chaos
By: Dore Gold
238 pages
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