Two principal meanings exist, neither of which implies either promotion of world government, nor undermining of national loyalties: (1) Applying a kind of knowledge – an attitude – that leads the people of every nation to feel friendliness towards the people of other nations and to cooperate in international enterprises. This is a sympathetic understanding, implying a favourable attitude conducive to mutual accord, of which cooperative and peaceful relations are held to be a natural consequence; and (2) Developing an objective attitude, a sober comprehension of the behaviour of other people, whether friends or enemies. This is objective intellectual understanding which may render the points of disagreement clearer, and in some cases fewer.
A major means of promoting international understanding is held to be education concerning the United Nations Charter and the purposes and principles, the structure, background and activities of the UN in schools and institutes of higher learning. Activities aimed at enhancing the humanistic, cultural and international dimension of education represented a major contribution to the World Decade for Cultural Development, as well as being an integral part of UNESCO's contribution to peace, human rights and the elimination of all forms of discrimination.