Envisioning reform : enhancing UN accountability in the twenty-first century / edited by Sumihiro Kuyama and Michael Ross Fowler.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Making the United Nations accountable: managerial and political perspectives -- p. 1. General analysis of accountability in the UN context -- Bringing the different United Nations to account -- Conceptual analysis of accountability : the structure of accountability in the process of responsability -- Legitimacy and accountability of the United Nations -- Accountability of the United Nations from the perspectives of international law -- p. 2. Managerial accountability -- Managerial accountability and the UN system -- UN management reform as a basis for enhancing -- A ladder of accountability : analysis of subconcepts of managerial accountability in the United Nations -- p. 3. Political accountability -- Enhancing the political accountability of the United Nations via multi-stakeholder synergy -- Democratic accountability in the UN field operations -- p. 4. Case studies of accountability -- Accountability and NPM reforms in the European Union : implications for UN reform -- Improving accountability and legitimacy in the European Union -- The World Bank inspection panel : participation and accountability -- Improving accountability at the Asian Development Bank.

The term "accountability" is increasingly heard at the United Nations. More than six decades after the organization's founding, people continue to ask exactly how the UN is accountable for what it does, and many agree that enhanced UN accountability is a prerequisite to effective global governance. Nevertheless, the concept is elusive and rarely defined, and views have diverged on its proper meaning and various implications. The contributors to this volume identify key issues, raise pertinent questions, and suggest useful reforms regarding accountability in the context of the United Nations system.