The United Nations is the preeminent institution of multilateralism. Throughout its history, the US has seen the advantages of living in a world organized according to laws, values, and principles. The UN, for all its imperfections reflects this American preference for an ordered world. When American actions seem driven by US national security imperatives alone, partners can prove hard to find. Working within the UN allows the US to maximize its soft power – the ability to attract and persuade others to adopt the American agenda – rather than relying purely on the dissuasive or coercive hard power of military force.
