We are pleased to announce that the book "Eric Drummond and his Legacies - The League of Nations and the Beginnings of Global Governance" has just been published by Palgrave Macmillan.
Written by four BAFUNCS Members - David Macfadyen, Michael Davies, Marilyn Carr and John Burley - the book describes the early days of the League of Nations, whose centenary is celebrated this year, through the work of its first Secretary-General, Sir Eric Drummond. It traces how those early days defined some basic approaches and concepts which were effectively inherited by the United Nations and still informs its work to this day - as well as many of the inherent tensions within such an intergovernmental structure. It also provides pen portraits of a variety of other League staff who made significant contributions in the early days of global governance.
A taster of this story is provided by a brief contribution to this month's UN Special by one of the book's authors, John Burley.
The newly-published book was discussed in Geneva at the UNOG Library on Tuesday 16 April as well as at the National Library of Scotland on Thursday 25 April.
Geneva: (left to right) Professor Madeleine Herren-Oesch, University of Basel; John Burley & Michael Davies (BAFUNCS); Blandine Blukacz-Louisfert (UNOG), Francesco Pisano (UNOG); Henning Melber (Dag Hammarskjold Foundation); David Macfadyen (BAFUNCS).
Below, David Macfadyen discusses the book at the National Library of Scotland.
The book will be discussed by the authors and Sir Adam Roberts at the BAFUNCS Annual Reunion in Stratford, on the morning of Sunday 19 May 2019.
The content of the book, including the text of a Prologue and extracts from the first chapter, can be found under Eric Drummond and his Legacies in Google Books. It can also be bought from Amazon, in hard-copy or kindle versions. While the price is high, it is hoped that BAFUNCS members will in due course be able to benefit from a discount. It is also hoped that a paperback version will be published sometime in the future.
