Part 1 The context and the conferences: the origins and institutional setting of the UN special conferences, Paul Taylor; the pattern of the conferences, Peter Willetts. Part 2 Global issues: in search of racial equality, Gene M.Lyons; UNSSODS - the quest for structure and norms, A.J.R.Groom and J.F.Guilhaudis; population - coming to terms with people, Paul Taylor; the road to Rome - the production and distribution of food, Donald J.Puchala; the human environment - Stockholm 1971-2 and its follow up, Ingrid Detter de Lupis; women's rights - the decade 1975-1985, R.J.Harrision; UNCTAD and international economic reform, Gautam Sen and Marc Williams. Part 3 Evaluation and prescription: reflections on a changing system, A.J.R.Groom; the report of the Committee of Eighteen.