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This dissertation applies modern public choice theories to the United Nations system. Public choice is the study of public sector decision making using basic economic postulates. It attempts to gain insights into the formation and operation of collective organizations by studying the personal incentives faced by the relevant decision-makers. For many years, people have pointed to the apparent failure of international organizations to achieve their goals. The public choice approach offers new insights into the reasons for this failure, and it can also be used to suggest improvements which might enable these organizations to be more successful.