Economic and Social Thinking at the UN in Historical Perspective

Abstract

This article begins to examine the history of economic and social ideas launched or nurtured by the United Nations (UN). In 1999, the United Nations Intellectual History Project was initiated, to analyse the UN as an intellectual actor, and to shed light on the role of the UN system in creating knowledge and in influencing international policy‐making: this article is based on the first five books and the oral histories from that Project. The starting point is that ideas may be the most important legacy of the UN for human rights, economic and social development, as well as for peace and security. For the authors, this ‘intellectual history’ provides a way to explore the origins of particular ideas; trace their course within institutions, scholarship, and discourse; and in some cases evaluate the impact of ideas on policy and action.

How and why universal primary education was selected as a Millennium Development Goal: A case study

“…Emmerij et al (2005) state that the MDGs have "aroused much scepticism. Yet careful analysis shows that over the last forty years the UN has set some fifty development goals, with a record of performance that is more encouraging than often realized" (p. 216).…”

“…They are in a strong position because much power is concentrated in their hands (Chabbott 2003, Emmerij 2005, King 2007, Psacharopoulos 2006). Pierson's work (2000), from an historical institutionalist perspective, relates to normative isomorphism.…”

Full faith in credit? The power of numbers in rating frontier sovereigns and the global governance of development by the UNDP

“…It highlights how broad and public consensus on such quantitative market strategies has become, strengthened by coalitions between states, IOs and private entities and in particular convergence in policy between the major development organisations of the World Bank and the UNDP. What separates development practices by the UNDP is the complicated evolution of capacity development in the UN (Fromerand, 2003:17, resulting from the particular historical structure of development in the UN (Emmerij et al, 2005) and the uncertain nature of the UNDPs resources through voluntary contributions.…”

Cosmopolitan Presumptions? On Martha Nussbaum and her Commentators

“…Recent work on leadership through ideas in the world system (including Emmerij et al, 2001, 2005; Murphy, 2005, and this issue) concludes that indeed amongst the key ideas with societal influence are ideas about values. As a key example: ‘UN ideas can change the nature of international public policy discourse and debate and, as a result, can often help states to define or redefine their interests to be more inclusive of common concerns’ (Emmerij et al, 2005: 218). However, de Bono (1985) notes that it may be easier, relatively speaking, to influence people by changing visions than by directly changing their values.…”