The non-fiction novel, “An insider’s guide to the United Nations” is an informative and interesting read. However, I am a bias evaluator since I participate in Model United Nations and believe the UN is a legitimate cause of positive universal change. Overall the book was well written and easy to follow; I enjoyed reading it. This book, by Linda Fasulo, is “a behind-the-scenes guide to the UN for Model UN students, international relations junkies, and armchair diplomats” (Fasulo). The subject of this novel is the United Nations’ function and purpose. The novel’s aim is to further educate those interested in the UN, the news, and what happens behind closed doors. Fasulo’s thesis is that some aspects of the United Nations make a difference in the global community while others are useless. She believes the UN should be reformed to make every aspect essential. However, her bias plays part in her thesis since she is an American journalist. She views committees of importance as being committees the United States deals with most or participates actively on. By supporting republican thoughts on issues dealt with by the UN, her republican bias is evident. Linda Fasulo succeeds at getting her point across to the reader. It is impressive how well she implements her thesis into factual evidence of the United Nations. She argues the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) useless in comparison to the United Nations Charter. She points out that the Charter is legally binding whereas the UNDHR is not. The reader understands the UNDHR is merely a guideline, and the Charter is a concrete document of international law. She persuades the reader to think the UNDHR makes no change in the international community as a result of superfluous goals. Fasulo also emphasizes the importance of the Security Council over the General Assembly. Fasulo notes that decisions made by the Security Council (SC) are legally binding, whereas resolutions passed by the General Assembly are difficult to enforce. She explains that the GA makes decisions through consensus: often a slow, ineffective process of problem solving. She further describes the GA as being heavily reliant on Non-Governmental Organizations. She fails to mention that the United States is the dominant player of the Security Council, which motivates her to favour the SC over the GA. Notwithstanding this, Fasulo’s main contentions are well presented, identifiable and persuasive. I believe the book’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. The book contains excellent evidence and references to past events at the United Nations. Despite being a journalist, Fasulo’s information is true to fact, concrete, and backed by reason. The book is detailed and addresses the main issues examined by the UN. In contrast, the book’s weaknesses include pro-American bias and underestimation of the power and influence of the General Assembly. The book’s place in the literature of its subject deals primarily with politics and international relations. It addresses all aspects of the UN and effectively distinguishes the differences and similarities of politics and diplomacy, and government and humanitarian aid. I recommend this book to those interested in the world politics, governance, international relations, world issues, and diplomacy.
The non-fiction novel, “An insider’s guide to the United Nations” is an informative and interesting read. However, I am a bias evaluator since I participate in Model United Nations and believe the UN is a legitimate cause of positive universal change. Overall the book was well written and easy to follow; I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteThis book, by Linda Fasulo, is “a behind-the-scenes guide to the UN for Model UN students, international relations junkies, and armchair diplomats” (Fasulo). The subject of this novel is the United Nations’ function and purpose. The novel’s aim is to further educate those interested in the UN, the news, and what happens behind closed doors.
Fasulo’s thesis is that some aspects of the United Nations make a difference in the global community while others are useless. She believes the UN should be reformed to make every aspect essential. However, her bias plays part in her thesis since she is an American journalist. She views committees of importance as being committees the United States deals with most or participates actively on. By supporting republican thoughts on issues dealt with by the UN, her republican bias is evident.
Linda Fasulo succeeds at getting her point across to the reader. It is impressive how well she implements her thesis into factual evidence of the United Nations. She argues the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) useless in comparison to the United Nations Charter. She points out that the Charter is legally binding whereas the UNDHR is not. The reader understands the UNDHR is merely a guideline, and the Charter is a concrete document of international law. She persuades the reader to think the UNDHR makes no change in the international community as a result of superfluous goals. Fasulo also emphasizes the importance of the Security Council over the General Assembly. Fasulo notes that decisions made by the Security Council (SC) are legally binding, whereas resolutions passed by the General Assembly are difficult to enforce. She explains that the GA makes decisions through consensus: often a slow, ineffective process of problem solving. She further describes the GA as being heavily reliant on Non-Governmental Organizations. She fails to mention that the United States is the dominant player of the Security Council, which motivates her to favour the SC over the GA. Notwithstanding this, Fasulo’s main contentions are well presented, identifiable and persuasive.
I believe the book’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. The book contains excellent evidence and references to past events at the United Nations. Despite being a journalist, Fasulo’s information is true to fact, concrete, and backed by reason. The book is detailed and addresses the main issues examined by the UN. In contrast, the book’s weaknesses include pro-American bias and underestimation of the power and influence of the General Assembly.
The book’s place in the literature of its subject deals primarily with politics and international relations. It addresses all aspects of the UN and effectively distinguishes the differences and similarities of politics and diplomacy, and government and humanitarian aid.
I recommend this book to those interested in the world politics, governance, international relations, world issues, and diplomacy.