suggested bythequestions raisedinregardtothefutureofexisting alliances. Atthesametime,theprogress madeoverrecentyearsinresolving regional conflicts, combined withtheprospect ofcompleting decolonization andending apartheid duringtheplanperiod, suggests possibilities thatcanlendcontent to theconcept ofcollective security. Asserious conflicts invarious regions continue totakeaheavytollinlivesandproperty andinhope,thefullcapacity oftheUnited Nations, whichhasclearly growninthemorefavourable international -2-INTRODUCTION 1.Trulyseminal periods inthecourse ofworldaffairs arerare. Thelastwas attheendoftheSecond WorldWarwhengreatopportunities openedforthe betterment ofthehumancondition. Majorachievements followed. Almostall colonial areasbecame independent nations. Therightstowhichallareentitled weredefined and,inprinciple, largely accepted. Peaceprevailed between the majorpower-blocs, troubled andunproductive tobesure,butbetter byfarthan globalconflict andnuclear catastrophe. Yetmanyopportunities remained unfulfilled. Chronic discord between themajorPowers, theprofligate wasteof resources onarms,massive infringements oftheagreed normsofhumanrights and thefailure toeliminate, orevensubstantially lessen, thedisparity between the poorest nations andtherich,adisparity reflected inthereality ofonequarter oftheearth's inhabitants livinganddyinginabjectpoverty -allthisref.lected acostlyfailure toestablish theconditions ofstability andwell-being envisaged intheCharter oftheUnitedNations. 2.Theworldstands nowagaininanewseminal period. Recent developments, especially thelifting ofthedeadening weightofthecoldwarandrenewed vigour intheprocess ofdemocratization, openenormous opportunities toremedythesins ofomission andcommission ofthepast,toexpandtheadvances thathavebeenmade sothattheyareavailable toall,toensurepeaceinalli.tsdimensions. The objectives oftheUnitedNations forthenextsixtearsandintothenewcentury mustbedefined withthisheartening circumstance inmind.Priorities mustbeso agreedastoensurethatthefullcapacity oftheUnitedNations systemwillbe applied totherealization ofthoseobjectives. Thismedium-term planshould aim torecapture thevisionofinternational affairs articulated almosthalfacentury agowhentheCharter wasadopted. * * * 3.Atthecentreofthearrangements envisioned inthesphereofpeaceand security wastheconcept of"collective security", deeply embedded intheCharter. Duringthepastfourdecades, tensions between themajorPowerspervasively conditioned thepotentialities oftheUnitedNations, eveninsituations and problems thatwerenotdirectly related tothem.Butwiththeeasingofthose tensions, theconcept ofcollective security canonceagainbeinvoked andindeed fullyexplored initswidersignificance anditsmUltiple aspects. Theseaspects include notonlytheclassical procedures ofconciliation, mediation andbinding arbitration, butalsothenumerous measures ofconfidence-building sosuccessfully elaborated inaregional context bytheConference onSecurity andCo-operation in Europe. Thenewdynamic ofdisarmament, attested byaremarkable breakthrough in theacceptance ofon-the-spot verification andtheprospect ofmajorreduction in thegreatPowers' arsenals, putscollective security inaperspective different thantheonethrough whichithasbeenseensofar.Thatthereisroom-and, indeed, acompelling necessity -fortherevival ofthisconcept isperhaps already suggested bythequestions raisedinregardtothefutureofexisting alliances. Atthesametime,theprogress madeoverrecentyearsinresolving regional conflicts, combined withtheprospect ofcompleting decolonization andending apartheid duringtheplanperiod, suggests possibilities thatcanlendcontent to theconcept ofcollective security. Asserious conflicts invarious regions continue totakeaheavytollinlivesandproperty andinhope,thefullcapacity oftheUnited Nations, whichhasclearly growninthemorefavourable international -2- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryenvironment, mustbedirected totheresolution oftheseconflicts andtothe prevention ofnewones. Peacecannotbeaprivilege, secureonlyfortherichand powerful. 4.Itmustbeborneinmindinthiscontext thatpresent conflicts andthosewe arelikelytofaceinthefuturearequitedisparate innature. Afew,still,are theresultofdisputes andrivalries between States. Insomecases,structural
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a policy document or a speech about the future of the United Nations, focusing on international relations, security, and cooperation. It discusses the concept of collective security, the role of the UN in resolving conflicts, and the importance of addressing disparities between nations. While it does not explicitly mention economic development, natural resources, or health, it touches on the themes of poverty, inequality, and disarmament, which are all related to broader societal and economic issues.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief