Book excerpt: This new book covers the origins purposes, trends and controversies of the United Nations' global conferences. There are 30 such conferences to compare, and many argue that they have not been worth the money spent on them. Others, however, suggest that they offer the only effective way to address global problems, like racism, sexism, overpopulation, environmental degradation, overfishing, urbanization, and the proliferation of small arms. This is the first comprehensive study of this key topic, delivering information essential to the ongoing debate on multilateralism, with examinations of: * the typical structure of a conference * description of the Global Conferences * substantive and institutional outcomes of the conferences * changes resulting from the conferences * UN Conferences as mechanisms for coping with the problems of the 21st Century This book is essential reading for students of the United Nations, international organisation and global governance, as well as practitioners from non-governmental organizations.