There is a deep ideological belief in Washington, said Tharoor, in "U.S. exceptionalism," and therefore, in "U.S. unilateralism."
Though he disagrees, Tharoor said he understands the belief.
"Where you stand depends on where you sit," he said.
But Tharoor, who has worked for the UN for over 20 years--ever since he received his Ph.D from Tufts at the age of 22--maintained that although he thinks some of the American critiques of the UN are on target, it is necessary to support the UN more, not less.
After all, he said, "it is better to have representatives bore each other to death than shoot each other to death."
Students had mixed reactions to Tharoor's presentation.
Kishan Putta, a student at the Kennedy School of Government, called Tharoor "a really good spokesman for the UN."
"He addressed criticisms [of the UN] and turned them on their head very nimbly," he said.
Recommended Articles
-
Why the United Nations MattersD oes the United Nations (UN) flag deserve to fly over John Harvard? Today, honoring the fifty-first anniversary of the
-
Against American IsolationismLast Sunday marked United Nations (UN) Day, which Harvard will celebrate this week with a series of events including a
-
Politics Before PrestigeFor nearly three years, Washington's vote in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has been in jeopardy because of the
-
U.N. Power and the Middle EastThe world will celebrate United Nations Day tomorrow. The Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, will release a brief note expressing cautious pride
-
Group to Provide Material on UN in College LibrariesUnited Nations information shelves will be opened in Widener and all House libraries early in February, according to Stephen M.
-
UN Council Furnishes Material in LibrariesShelves of reading material on the United Nations are now open in all House libraries, and in Widener and the
