Issue 26: July-August 2003

Throwing out rule book
not enough – Thakur 

Ramesh Thakur speaking during  the New York book launch

Countries that challenge the world order symbolised by the United Nations must indicate their alternative system of international rules, including dispute resolution, according to Ramesh Thakur, director of UN University's Peace and Governance Programme.

"Simply rejecting an existing rule or norm, no matter how unsatisfactory, in order to overthrown an existing ruler, no matter how odious, is not enough," Thakur said.

Speaking at the launch of four new UNU publications at UN headquarters in New York last month, Thakur said that any unsanctioned intervention not only violates the sovereignty of the target state, it also challenges the principle of a society of states resting on a system of well understood and habitually obeyed rules.   

He warned that "cherry-picking" norms and laws to suit partisan interests of the day will undermine respect for the principle of world order founded on law.

Thakur said that the new book From Civil Strife to Civil Society, published by UNU Press, presents a good discussion of the patience and commitment of attention and resources that are required for a truly successful campaign of regime change.

The other publications launched at the New York event were:

• Enhancing Global Governance: Towards a New Diplomacy? edited by Andrew F. Cooper, John English and Ramesh Thakur

• Democratization in the Middle East: Experiences, Struggles, Challenges edited by Amin Saikal and Albrecht Schnabel

• Conflict Prevention: The Secretary-General’s Report and The Way Forward, an expert forum report edited by Ramesh Thakur and Albrecht Schnabel.

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