Michael Massing's thoughtful and critical review of Smanatha Power's new book is a refreshing read. Not just because good book reviews are a relative rarity, but because Massing makes a critique of the UN that we don't hear too often: Namely, that it's slavishly subservient to its large, powerful, member countries like America. Domestically, the conversation about the UN tends to focus on the moments when it doesn't totally fold before American initiatives, and tends to feature neoconservatives trumpeting the necessity of withdrawing from any institution that would dare criticize murderous and moronic wars of choice. In making the opposite case, Massing neatly dramatizes what a strange and complicated role the UN plays. It's supposed to give smaller countries a voice, and create a body that can legitimate the decisions of the strong. But it has no legitimacy, and no power, without the buy-in of the strong. At the same time, it has no purpose if it simply amplifies the voices of already powerful countries. That's quite a tightrope to walk, and all things considered, they do a pretty good job.
