Belgium and the United Nations

Abstract This chapter reviews relevant literature to reconstruct the evolution of Belgium’s involvement with the United Nations (UN). It shows how Belgium continuously plays the small state card while refusing to accept the limitations that come with it. While the choice for cooperation and specialization has made Belgium a valuable and valued UN partner, the partnership has also experienced difficult times. The Congo Crisis (1960–4) and the Rwandan genocide (1994) stand out here. This chapter also shows that academic interest in Belgium’s functioning at the UN largely echoes the highs and lows of Belgium’s involvement with the organization. Based on this observation, this chapter offers some recommendations that may transform the Belgian case from an interesting read for a smaller audience into a case that is relevant for understanding wider patterns in global politics.