Regional and Global UN Entities: A Constructive Exchange of Ideas

AbstractThe article synthesises the lessons drawn from Unity and Diversity in Development Ideas: Perspectives from the UN Regional Commissions.Confronted with the different realities of their regions, the UN Regional Commissions gave different answers to similar issues such as regional cohesion, development, and regionalisation versus globalisation. Their analyses and policies often had an impact beyond the limits of the region where they were elaborated and, conversely, the Commissions also acted as the regional arm of the United Nations, adapting some UN principles and agreements to regional circumstances. The regret is expressed that the wealth of analyses and policies accumulated in the UN regionally and globally has not been used to elaborate an alternative development paradigm that would restore intellectual leadership to the UN.