The world has witnessed quick transformations in the era of increasing interactions among different nations. Admittedly, most of the problems confronting mankind are global in nature. The genesis of the United Nations (UN) lies in the need to provide security to its member-states and thereby saving the succeeding generations from the scourge of war. However, over the decades nations learned that the role of economic and social wing of the UN, which includes ECOSOC and different specialised agencies like UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO and many others, has become as important as that of the Security Council.

And not only that, there is need for all these organisations to function in tandem as each major problem has multifaceted dimensions. In the process, the concept of human security transcended its traditional narrow militarist confines to embrace literally all aspects of human life. As the definition of security has changed, the requirement of a reformed and restructured UN has become more germane. The book under review tries to highlight the problems and prospects of restructuring the world body so as to reflect the changed ground realities over the six decades since the founding of the UN.

Dr. B. N. Mehrish, a specialist in International Law and a university professor for long years, discusses the larger issues of global nature demanding answers in an increasingly integrated world (chapter one). He recounts the transformations in the international arena in the aftermath of the Cold War era and suggests that all of them call for a larger role for the UN. The author reflects on the theoretical shifts in the conceptualisation of security. In order to understand the current international challenges and opportunities, students of International Relations have to take note of the paradigm shifts underway in the post-Cold War era. The major shifts are from realism to neo-realism and onto neo-liberalism.

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