The law and practice of the United Nations

Bibliographic Information

The law and practice of the United Nations

by Benedetto Conforti

(Legal aspects of international organization, v. 36)

Kluwer Law International, c2000

2nd rev. ed

  • : pb

Other Title

Nazioni Unite

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

First published: Padua : CEDAM, 1971

Description and Table of Contents
Volume

ISBN 9789041114143

Description

This volume is the English version of the fifth Italian edition of a textbook on the United Nations which was first published in 1971 by CEDAM (Padua). The book aims to provide a comprehensive legal analysis of problems concerning membership, the structure of UN organs, their functions and their acts taking into consideration the text of the Charter, its historical origins, and, particularly, the practice of the organs. Developments in United Nations practice subsequent to 1971 have obviously been taken into account. As a general working criterion, the more recent practice has been added to the pre-existing one, rather than substituting it, even when past practice may appear to be obsolete. Indeed one of the aims of the book is to trace the "story" of the United Nations from its birth precisely through an analysis of the practice. Moreover, since the Charter has never undergone any substantive modifications, one cannot exclude that what may appear to be old and obsolete today could become of current interest in the future. For this reason the examination of former practice will sooner or later become useful to anyone seeking to interpret the Charter. For instance, in 1975 the United States proposed the admission of the two Vietnams, which were separate countries at that time, and of the two Koreas, under the "package" technique. Thus the well-known 1948 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the "package" proposed by the Soviet Union for collective admission in the 40s and 50s again became timely, despite its having appeared obsolete. This legal analysis which is free of dogmatism and firmly linked to practice describes the role played by the United Nations in the past and at present better than many lengthy and inconclusive political or sociological studies. The book is very much focused on the Charter as it stands while it only marginally deals with reforms that might be introduced, such as those concerning the structure of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Indeed, it is difficult to foresee radical reforms, giving the UN an entirely new shape. This is particularly true with regard to endowing the organization with the force and efficacy that would be needed for the maintenance of peace and security.

Table of Contents

Preface. Abbreviations. General Bibliography. Introduction. 1. The Membership. Section I: Acquisition of Membership Status.Section II: Modifications in Membership Status. 2. The Organs. Section I: The Security Council. Section II: The General Assembly. Section III: The Secretariat. IV: The Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council. Section V: The International Court of Justice. 3. The Functions. Section I: General Limits to United Nations Functions. Section II: Maintenance of the Peace: Functions of the Security Council. Section III: Maintenance of the Peace: the Functions of the General Assembly. Section IV: Maintenance of the Peace: The Functions of the Secretary-General. Section V: Maintenance of the Peace and Regional Organizations. Section VI: Economic Co-operation and Action for Development.Section VII: The Protection of Human Rights. Section VIII: De-colonisation and Self-Determination of Peoples. Section IX: Registration of Treaties. Section X: The Judicial Functions. Section XI: Financing the Organization. 4. The Acts. Analytical Index.
Volume

: pb ISBN 9789041114686

Description

This volume is the up-to-date English version of the fifth Italian edition of a textbook on the United Nations which was first published in 1971 by CEDAM (Padua). The book aims to provide a comprehensive legal analysis of problems concerning membership, the structure of U.N. organisations, their functions and their acts taking into consideration the text of the Charter, its historical origins, and, particularly, the practice of the organisations. Developments in United Nations practice subsequent to 1971 have obviously been taken into account. As a general working criterion, the more recent practice has been added to the pre-existing one, rather than substituting it, even when past practice may appear to be obsolete. Indeed one of the aims of the book is to trace the `story' of the United Nations from its birth precisely through an analysis of the practice. Moreover, since the Charter has never undergone any substantive modifications, one cannot exclude that what may appear to be old and obsolete today could become of current interest in the future. For this reason the examination of former practice will sooner or later become useful to anyone seeking to interpret the Charter. For instance, in 1975 the United States proposed the admission of the two Vietnams, which were separate countries at that time, and of the two Koreas, under the `package' technique. Thus the well-known 1948 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the `package' proposed by the Soviet Union for collective admission in the 40s and 50s again became timely, despite its having appeared obsolete. This legal analysis which is free of dogmatism and firmly linked to practice describes the role played by the United Nations in the past and at present better than many lengthy and inconclusive political or sociological studies. The book is very much focused on the Charter as it stands while it only marginally deals with reforms that might be introduced, such as those concerning the structure of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Indeed, it is difficult to foresee radical reforms, giving the UN an entirely new shape. This is particularly true with regard to endowing the Organisation with the force and efficacy that would be needed for the maintenance of peace and security. Recent events have clearly shown how unfeasible such an endowment would be.

Table of Contents

Preface. Abbreviations. General Bibliography. Introduction. 1. The Membership. Section I: Acquisition of Membership Status.Section II: Modifications in Membership Status. 2. The Organs. Section I: The Security Council. Section II: The General Assembly. Section III: The Secretariat. IV: The Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council. Section V: The International Court of Justice. 3. The Functions. Section I: General Limits to United Nations Functions. Section II: Maintenance of the Peace: Functions of the Security Council. Section III: Maintenance of the Peace: the Functions of the General Assembly. Section IV: Maintenance of the Peace: The Functions of the Secretary-General. Section V: Maintenance of the Peace and Regional Organizations. Section VI: Economic Co-operation and Action for Development.Section VII: The Protection of Human Rights. Section VIII: De-colonisation and Self-Determination of Peoples. Section IX: Registration of Treaties. Section X: The Judicial Functions. Section XI: Financing the Organization. 4. The Acts. Analytical Index.

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Details
  • NCID
    BA50451796
  • ISBN
    • 9041114149
    • 9041114688
  • LCCN
    00042028
  • Country Code
    ne
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Original Language Code
    ita
  • Place of Publication
    The Hague ; Boston
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvi, 313 p.
  • Size
    25 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
  • Parent Bibliography ID
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