Secretary or General?
The UN Secretary-General in World Politics

Examines the role of the United Nations Secretary-General and the ambiguities surrounding the position.

Simon Chesterman (Edited by), Kofi A. Annan (Foreword by)

9780521876155, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 February 2007

296 pages, 4 tables
23.6 x 15.9 x 2.9 cm, 0.6 kg

'The position of Secretary-General is a job like no other. The person requires the skills of a general, yet the humility to serve as a secretary. Whether dealing with disasters that are natural or man-made, the Secretary-General is expected to conduct the world orchestra of nations. As a long-time participant and observer at the United Nations, I can say that this book is most timely, and much needed.' José Ramos-Horta, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is a unique figure in world politics. At once civil servant, the world's diplomat, lackey of the UN Security Council, and commander-in-chief of up to a hundred thousand peacekeepers, he or she depends on states for both the legitimacy and resources that enable the United Nations to function. The tension between these roles - of being secretary or general - has challenged every incumbent. This book brings together the insights of senior UN staff, diplomats and scholars to examine the normative and political factors that shape this unique office with particular emphasis on how it has evolved in response to changing circumstances such as globalization and the onset of the 'war on terror'. The difficulties experienced by each Secretary-General reflect the profound ambivalence of states towards entrusting their security, interests or resources to an intergovernmental body.

Foreword Kofi A. Annan
Introduction Simon Chesterman
Part I. Defining and Refining the Job Description: 1. The evolution of the Secretary-General Brian E. Urquhart
2. 'The most impossible job' description Shashi Tharoor
3. Selecting the world's diplomat Colin Keating
Part II. Maintaining Peace and Security: 4. Relations with the Security Council James Cockayne and David M. Malone
5. Good offices and 'groups of friends' Teresa Whitfield
6. The bully pulpit Quang Trinh
Part III. Normative and Political Dilemmas: 7. The Secretary-General as norm entrepreneur Ian Johnstone
8. Pope, pharaoh, or prophet? The Secretary-General after the Cold War Adekeye Adebajo
9. Leader, clerk, or policy entrepreneur? The Secretary-General in a complex world David Kennedy
Part IV. Independence and the Future: 10. The Secretary-General's political space James Traub
11. The Secretary-General in a unipolar world Edward C. Luck
12. Resolving the contradictions of the office Simon Chesterman and Thomas M. Franck
Appendix.

Subject Areas: International law [LB], International relations [JPS], Public administration [JPP]