The Prospects and Limitations of Diplomacy

Extract

The postwar era in international politics has been one of success and failure in the search for conflict adjustment among major powers. It is sobering to examine the list of issues inscribed at one time or another on the agenda of the United Nations and count the number for which resolution has never been achieved. For example, little, if any progress has been made toward a political settlement in the Middle East, South Africa's policies, Eastern Europe, the denuclearization of Latin America or countless other issues outstanding around the world. It would be interesting to compare the pattern of conflict adjustment in international assemblies with that in national legislative bodies to throw light on the differences between the processes and prospects at the two levels.