Books, Arts & Manners: Sumo-Wrestling at Turtle Bay

The UN: In or Out? A Debate between Ernest van den Haag and John P. Conrad (Plenum Press, 355 pp., $19.95)

As Congress has become increasingly concerned about corruption and anti-Americanism at the United Nations, and has accordingly reduced the U.S. contribution to that organization in the past few years, the debate over the very existence of the UN has receded into the background, giving way instead to talk about reform. It is, indeed, an uncomfortable question: “In or Out of the UN?” Conservatives abandoned isolationism long ago, as the response to Grenada and Nicaragua clearly indicates. The Left is explicably schizophrenic, invoking self-restraint in Central America but loudly proclaiming active involvement in South Africa. Leaving the UN right now just isn’t in the political cards. This doesn’t mean, however, that it can’t be seriously, and quite intelligently, contemplated.

JG

About the Author

Juliana Geran Pilon

Featured Tags

The UN: In or Out? A Debate between Ernest van den Haag and John P. Conrad (Plenum Press, 355 pp., $19.95)

As Congress has become increasingly concerned about corruption and anti-Americanism at the United Nations, and has accordingly reduced the U.S. contribution to that organization in the past few years, the debate over the very existence of the UN has receded into the background, giving way instead to talk about reform. It is, indeed, an uncomfortable question: “In or Out of the UN?” Conservatives abandoned isolationism long ago, as the response to Grenada and Nicaragua clearly indicates. The Left is explicably schizophrenic, invoking self-restraint in Central America but loudly proclaiming active involvement in South Africa. Leaving the UN right now just isn’t in the political cards. This doesn’t mean, however, that it can’t be seriously, and quite intelligently, contemplated.