And for these ends to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed forces shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples... (from the [Preamble to the UN Charter, 1945]).
2. The end of the Cold War has brought fresh opportunities to make the values enshrined in the preamble to the UN Charter a reality in international affairs. During the Cold War these values were largely abandoned to give way to traditional power politics among states. Throughout the post-war period, the moral basis for the defence of human rights was seriously damaged as governments engaged in a global battle against either communism or imperialism. Although the Charter states that armed force was only to be used in the common interest, there was a really strong process of militarization throughout the world. The economic policy of states served foreign policy -- you rewarded your friends and castigated your enemies.