The UN General Assembly

Abstract

Contacts between various parts of the UN system and non-state actors have expanded considerably over the years, but the General Assembly remains relatively insulated. Non-state actors appear frequently in subsidiary bodies or at "high-level meetings" and "interactive dialogues" on particular topics, but the plenary and main committee meetings remain firmly intergovernmental. This chapter examines how the General Assembly has figured in international relations (IR) theory and outlines its institutional design and evolution. It explores the General Assembly&s;s role and impact within the current UN structure. The chapter presents an ongoing debate about how the General Assembly might fit into efforts to make the United Nations more relevant to contemporary global governance. The General Assembly could shift more attention to reviewing the results and impacts of global governance efforts, to identify synergies or interferences among them. The chapter offers some concluding thoughts about the future of the General Assembly and the principal dynamics that are likely to continue to prevail therein.

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