• ISBN13: 9781908739261
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: N/A
• Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited
• Publisher Imprint: Elliott & Thompson Limited
• Publication Date: February 21, 2013
• Pages: 288
• Original Price: GBP 20.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 678 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): General

Welcome to a world of impossibly devious plots and characters--ambitious presidents and prime ministers from all corners of the world, some determined to hold onto power at any cost; a British government often with a misplaced sense of its own role in one of the world's oldest organizations; and an organization of 300 people, externally working to help the world, while inwardly struggling along racial and geo-political lines

For the first eight years of the 21st century, Don McKinnon was the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and this was the stuff of his day-to-day life, whether facing down armed coup leaders or soothing internal staff factions. Here for the first time he reveals what was going on behind the scenes during such major events as the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. With fascinating background detail and his predictions for the future of the Commonwealth itself, this is a compelling account of the trials and tribulations of running an international organization in a complex world.

Sir Donald Charles "Don" McKinnon is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2000 until 2008. During his time at the helm of the Commonwealth, he was involved in many serious episodes, including the suspension of Zimbabwe's membership and George Speight's attempted coup in Fiji. Sir Donald is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and lives in New Zealand.