This book shows how the first institution of global governance was conceived and operated. It provides a new assessment of its architect, Eric Drummond, the first Secretary-General of the League of Nations, appointed a century ago. The authors conclude that he stands in the front rank of the 12 men who have occupied the post of Secretary-General of the League or its successor, the UN. Part 1 describes his character and leadership. His influence in shaping the International Civil Service, the 'beating heart' of the League, is the subject of Part 2, which also shows how the young staff he appointed responded with imagination and creativity to the political, economic and social problems that followed World War I. Part 3 shows the influence of these early origins on today's global organizations and the large scale absorption of League policies, programmes, practices and staff into the UN and its Specialized Agencies.

Argues that the present-day organizations of global governance are powerfully influenced by their early origins Examines how the character of Eric Drummond influenced the establishment of the International Civil Service, the glue that holds the multilateral system together Appeals to those who follow international affairs and twentieth century history; academics and students of global organizations, international relations and global governance; as well as those working, or wishing to work, in international organizations

Autorentext

David Macfadyen is Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, UK, and has worked at a senior level in the World Health Organization (WHO). His research interests include the History of Medicine, which he has studied at the University of Glasgow, UK. Michael Davies is a former staff member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-American Development Bank. He is the author of International Organizations: A Companion and The Administration of International Organizations. Marilyn Carr has worked for the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UN Development Fund for Women. She studied Development Economics at the University of Sussex, UK, and is the author of many books and articles on science, technology and women's economic empowerment. John Burley was an economic adviser to the Government of Uganda before working for the UN, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Hewas a Director at the UN Conference for Trade and Development and has contributed to a number of published studies of the UN system.

Klappentext
"This well-researched book does justice finally to a forgotten pioneer of international cooperation. It explores Drummond's legacyan international civil service with integrity, intelligence, independence, and impartialitywhich remains more aspiration than reality. Discover why that vision remains pertinent."Thomas G. Weiss, City University of New York, USA
"Part biography, part institutional history, this is a fitting tribute to the spirit of internationalism on the eve of the League's centenary. The ethos of an impartial yet committed international civil service permeates the book -- and it is published when that ethos is needed more than ever."Christian J. Tams, University of Glasgow, UK
This book provides a new assessment of Eric Drummond, the first Secretary-General of the League of Nations. Part 1 describes his character and leadership. His influence in shaping the International Civil Service is the subject of Part 2. Part 3 shows the large-scale absorption of League programmes, practices and staff into the UN and its Specialized Agencies.
David Macfadyen is Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, UK, and has worked at a senior level in the World Health Organization (WHO). His research interests include the History of Medicine, which he has studied at the University of Glasgow, UK. Michael Davies is a former staff member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-American Development Bank. He is the author of International Organizations: A Companion and The Administration of International Organizations .
Marilyn Carr has worked for the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UN Development Fund for Women. She studied Development Economics at the University of Sussex, UK, and is the author of many books and articles on science, technology and women's economic empowerment.
John Burley was an economic adviser to the Government of Uganda before working for the UN, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP). He was a Director at the UN Conference for Trade and Development and has contributed to a number of published studies of the UN system.

Inhalt

1. The life and character of Eric Drummond 18761951.- 2. Leadership.- 3. After Geneva.- 4. An International Secretariat appears on the World Stage.- 5. The International Secretariat and its ethos.- 6. La Haute Direction, impartial and partial officials.- 7. The Directors and the work of their sections.- 8. Drummond's commitment to universality.- 9. Transition to the new international order.- 10. The structural and practical legacy of an International Civil Service.- 11. Humanitarian and political legacies.- 12. Social, economic and technical legacies.- 13. Internationalism restored, starting anew.