Is the United Nations effective?

The United Nations has played a crucial role in the international system since its beginning in 1945. It has been the main place where leaders from around the globe can communicate and work out issues. Its charter is admirable and includes goals, such as “saving future generations from the scourge of war has brought untold sorrow to mankind." The United Nations creates norms against violence, issues sanctions, provides a clearinghouse for foreign policy discussions, and plays a peacekeeping/diplomatic role by creating ‘space’ between conflicted countries. It also helps countries raise their standard of living, creates jobs, and delivers aid to victims of natural disasters or war. The human rights and relief programs that the UN has initiated or supported are impressive indeed.

On the other hand, the organization is over 60 years old and no longer works as effectively as it once did. Some countries have become more significant in world affairs (such as India). Some have become less significant (such as France). The organization, in short, does not reflect the needs of today’s world. There are too many organizations within the UN, each with different budgets, different status, governance, and overlapping mandates. There is competition among agencies, outdated business practices, and unclear missions. The UN cannot successfully deliver results with these handicaps.

Reforming the UN would be a huge process. In 2005, the UN’s high-level panel initiated reform debate by asking members for a consensus on international challenges, approaches to problems, and meaningful actions. The panel looked at everything from the UN’s structure to genocide, terrorism, and what a collective security system would mean. For example, given the interconnections in today’s global economy, terrorist attacks in wealthy nations can affect every nation in the world. So it was important to address terrorism and security from a global perspective. The recommendations from the reform panel included a new Human Rights Council, a new Peace building Commission, increased counter-terrorism measures, new norms for response to genocide, and changes in UN management structure. World leaders at the September 2005 summit endorsed the reforms in principle.

The UN needs to grow in importance over the next two decades as the world becomes smaller. Leaders of all countries need to have a reliable forum in which to discuss common problems and resolutions that affect the entire world. We are becoming more and more interconnected and so are our problems. For example, global warming and terrorism affect everyone on the planet equally. The UN must streamline its operations and look seriously at the structure of the Security Council. It must look at itself objectively and question its representation, voting, and financial issues. It must continue to give priority to all aspects of its charter, including economic development, human rights, and conflict resolution. As Kofi Annan once said, “We will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development, and we will not enjoy either with out respect for human rights.”

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