Using a novel theoretical model of the role of global civil servants in world politics, this book analyses the interaction between rising and declining powers, and the UN Secretariat. Contributors explore a wide range of case studies, examining UN interactions with a diverse range of states, UN agencies, and other global secretariats such as the WHO and WTO. The book considers both the ethical and practical questions facing UN staff, revealing the tension between political pragmatism and institutional idealism. Advancing the debate on institutions and global change, it argues that Secretariat staff play a complicated but active role in managing power transitions and shaping international politics.

Global Institutions in a Time of Power Transitionwill be an invaluable resource for scholars of political geography, international relations, regulation and governance, and the United Nations. It will also be essential reading for staff at international organisations who wish to understand their role in world politics.