The United Nations marked its 80th anniversary in 2025 amid calls for urgent reform. Despite its global stature, the UN faces internal inefficiencies and external crises that question its future relevance. Leaders and member states acknowledge the need for structural changes to meet evolving global challenges.
Current Context of the United Nations
The UN’s 80th year brought into light financial strains and administrative inefficiencies. Many member states delay or default on dues, causing liquidity issues. The organisation struggles with overlapping mandates and bureaucratic delays. Secretary-General António Guterres urged reforms to make the UN more coherent and effective. The UN80 Initiative aims to streamline functions and enforce budget accountability. The Pact for the Future, adopted recently, sets 56 commitments across peace, climate, development, security council reform, and digital governance.
Security Council – The Core Challenge
The Security Council remains central but controversial. It holds thousands of meetings annually but often fails to resolve conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza. The veto power of five permanent members creates paralysis. National interests frequently override collective action. Calls for reform face resistance from the P5 who guard their privileges. Various coalitions propose changes, but no consensus has emerged. Gradual reforms appear more feasible than radical overhauls, though delay risks loss of credibility and more conflict.
Historical Lessons and Past Reforms
The UN has faced crises before. During the Cold War, vetoes blocked decisive action. The 1990s brought optimism with treaties on climate and development but also tragic failures in Rwanda and Srebrenica. Post-2000, the UN’s peacekeeping role was bypassed by unilateral actions like the Iraq invasion. The 2003 high-level panel recommended reforms in peacekeeping and human rights, leading to some institutional improvements. This history shows the UN’s resilience and capacity for self-correction.
Emerging Global Challenges
Today’s world presents complex challenges – accelerating climate change, geopolitical fragmentation, rising inequality, and rapid technological change. Many governance systems predate these realities and struggle to respond. The UN must evolve to remain relevant. This includes expanding representation in its bodies to reflect emerging powers and the Global South. A more democratic and responsive UN is essential to address global crises effectively.
The UN’s Global Role and Importance
Despite its flaws, the UN is unmatched in providing global public goods. Its peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and norm-setting remain vital. Agencies like WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, and UNEP serve millions worldwide. Weakening the UN risks greater instability and humanitarian disasters. The organisation’s survival depends on reform and adaptation to new global realities. The UN must prove its continued relevance to the world’s eight billion people.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the challenges faced by multilateral institutions like the United Nations in maintaining global peace and security in the 21st century.
- Examine the role of veto power in the United Nations Security Council and analyse its impact on international conflict resolution and reform efforts.
- Estimate the effects of climate change on global governance structures and how international organisations can adapt to these emerging challenges.
- Point out the significance of equitable representation in global institutions and discuss the implications of expanding permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
