Bloc Politics in the United Nations

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In 1946 the United Nations approached the crucial question of the distribution of seats on the Security and other Councils by a “gentleman’s agreement” reached in behind-the-scenes negotiation in London. This is only one of many important developments—such as the San Francisco decision to create a majority-vote procedure in the General Assembly—which have led to the emergence of blocs for maximum voting strength and to the drastic deadlocks that threaten the United Nations’ success. Thomas Hovet analyzes the development of bloc politics in the United Nations and relates it to U.S. diplomatic interests.

This first systematic study of bloc politics in the UN finds it essential to the effectiveness of the United States in the General Assembly that it develop a realistic policy in this matter.