A personal introduction -- The United Nations at the end of the Cold War -- The work of the United Nations and its structure -- 1990: reversing an aggression -- 1991: war and peace; and state failure -- 1992: the crest of the wave -- 1993: the tipping point -- 1994: the heart of darkness -- 1995: recessional -- The path to reform -- The High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change: the people and the process -- The Panel's report -- From the launch to the Summit and beyond -- Looking back and looking ahead.