9781422285480

Chapter one

The Vision: The Formation of the UN and its Charter

In 1945, the United Nations formed with one overwhelming goal in mind: to create a world of peace and security for all people.World War I taught, and World War II reinforced, a powerful lesson to world leaders: ripples of discontent in one part of the world can cause waves of unrest across the globe. In the twentieth century, it became clear that the world had profoundly changed. No one could remain isolated within national boundaries.Modern industry,technology,and economy were shaping a new world order in which all countries had a stake. New military capabilities held potential for mass destruction like never before. With the advent of the atomic bomb, used in the closing days of WorldWar II, even total obliteration seemed possible. Wo r d s t o U n d e r s ta n d humanitarian : concerned with the well-being of others. preamble : a section at the beginning of a speech or formal document that explains the purpose of what follows. visionary : characterized by unusually acute foresight and imagination.

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Chapter One