Dr. Ramesh Thakur awarded for the best book on United Nations

WATERLOO, CANADA–(EMWNews – July 23, 2008) – The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is pleased to announce that its Distinguished Fellow Ramesh Thakur has won a prestigious Friends of ACUNS book award, which is presented annually to an author who has demonstrated outstanding research and writing on the United Nations (UN).

The United Nations, Peace and Security: From Collective Security to the Responsibility to Protect examines the transformation in the UN operations and analyses its challenging role and structure. It asks why, when and how force may be used and argues that the growing gulf between legality and legitimacy is evidence of an eroded sense of international community.

In his recent review of the book, Sir Marrack Goulding, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping and Political Affairs wrote, “If you think the UN needs reform, you should read this book; if you doubt whether reform is impossible, it is essential that you read it.”

Lauded by the critics, Dr. Thakur has established a formidable reputation as one of the world’s foremost commentators on the United Nations.

The Friends of ACUNS book award is funded from the income of an endowment which was established to ensure the financial future of the Academic Council on the United Nations System and the continuation of its programs.

The United Nations, Peace and Security: From Collective Security to the Responsibility to Protect is published by United Nations University, Tokyo. To review the book please visit the following link: www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521855179.

The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) is an international institution with a distinguished membership of nearly a thousand scholars, teachers, practitioners and others active in the work and study of the United Nations System and other international organizations. Membership in ACUNS helps to bring researchers, teachers, practitioners, and all other interested individuals together in a community of people and institutions interested in issues of international organization and global governance.

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank that addresses international governance challenges. Led by a group of experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2002 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org.