Dimensions of Conflict in the General Assembly

Abstract

Although there has been considerable work on voting patterns in the United Nations, almost none of it has contributed cumulatively to existing theories of international relations. Methodological problems or a descriptive intent have often stood in the way of such advancement. For example, the main findings of Thomas Hovet, Jr.'s Bloc Politics in the United Nations, the most comprehensive work to date, are based on trends in the voting cohesion of regional and caucusing groups in the Assembly and time-series data on how often these groups vote with the majority.