Africa Notes: The United Nations at 51: Problems and Prospects - September 1996

The United Nations was born out of the harsh experience of World War II shaped in large measure by the vision of President Franklin Roosevelt (with strong bipartisan support). it was first and foremost designed to be an organization, led collectively by the five great powers of that era (the United Kingdom, France, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China) to preserve the peace It has had many ups and downs during its 51-year roller-coaster existence.

Gerald A. Funk