The United Nations under Javier Perez de Cuellar, 1982-1991

This is a study Javier Perez de Cuellar and his time as Secretary-General of the United Nations. When he was elected few believed that he would be more than a temporary placeholder. Those perceptions appeared to be confirmed during 1982 when the UN was unable to intervene effectively in the Falklands war or prevent another outbreak of Mid-eastern violence. After the Israeli-Lebanese War the United States seemed at the point of disowning its creation. The administration of Ronald Reagan began reducing its monetary obligations to the world body and, by leaving UNESCO, signalled its disdain. By 1985 the UN faces moral and financial bankruptcy. During Perez de Cuellar’s second five-year term (1986-1991), a series of successful operations in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Africa demonstrated that the UN could play an important role in international affairs.