The United Nations World Summit—the largest gathering of heads of state in history—will convene this month to review and debate Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan of reform for Turtle Bay. What are the prospects and challenges for effective UN reform? Is the September summit likely to produce meaningful changes...

It will continue to take concerted leadership by the United States, working with the world's other democracies, to help the United Nations meet the enduring goals of its Charter.

Even from the perspective of the Bush administration, much concernedas it iswith the spread of freedom and democracy, the UN has many tools that should be of immense help, such as its recently-organized Democracy Caucus. Working in this context would provide legitimacy for U.S. action, both for the pursuit of democratic reform abroad and a huge range of other priorities, from nuclear proliferation, to anti-poverty,the spread of disease,the care of refugees,and the provision of peacekeepers and nation-builders. All of this should provide both policy makers and Americans who care about any and all of these issues a powerful motivation for constructive UN reform.

Support for the Community of Democracies -- rather than the elusive L20 -- is a risk-free, inexpensive way in which a medium-size country such as Canada can wield its influence, increase its profile and make a real difference.

Apart from a ritualistic reference in its final declaration, the Millennium Summit almost entirely ignored the subject of expanding the United Nations Security Council.

The United States and Britain must announce that African Union deliberations on access to the Security Council are meaningless untilAU deals with its own countries" human rights problems.

A new way of looking at the world is how the Clinton administration describes its "environmental diplomacy" initiative.

Apart from a ritualistic reference in its final Declaration, the Millennium Summit almost entirely ignored the subject of expanding the United Nations Security Council.