From a tool of the old imperial order to a forum for its abolition: the great adventure and historical transformations of the United Nations. The role of the United Nations in the modern world is particularly decisive, although very little known and understood.

Mark Mazower delves into the early history, ideological roots, and the changing presence of the organization on the international stage, sidelining the myth that it magically emerged from the ashes of World War II, as the guardian and guarantor of a new peaceful world order. As he shows, the architects of the United Nations designed a global organization that would protect the interests of empires and racial hierarchy, but this imperial vision was reshaped post-war by the affirmation of national sovereignty and the unpredictable rise of India and other formerly colonized countries.

The narrative follows the clash of personalities and perceptions, such as those of South African politician Jan Smuts, Jewish intellectuals Raphael Lemkin and Joseph Schechtman, and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This valuable reassessment of the history of the United Nations illuminates both their controversial origins and the impressive adaptability that has allowed them to survive to this day.