The United Nations: a paralyzed bureaucracy?

Many leaders recently spoke out at the UN. But is this institution really helpful in today’s conflicts?

What’s the UN?

The UN is a global institution founded after World War II. It replaced the failed League of Nations. It was designed to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

The UN’s main goal is to maintain global peace and security. It also promotes human rights and provide aid. It supports sustainable development and climate action. Finally, it upholds international law.

To achieve these goals, the UN has agencies like the WHO, WFP, UNICEF. It also has different organs. These organs include:

• Secretariat – for daily operations,

• General Assembly (GA) – to discuss global issues. Each of the 193 members have one vote,

• Security Council (UNSC) – with 5 members (U.S., UK, France, Russia, China) and 10 non-permanent members. Permanent members hold a veto power while the others do not. Non-permanent members have a 2-year mandate,

• International Court of Justice (ICJ) – settle legal disputes between states,

• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – for global economic and social issues. 

Reasons for its failures

Security Council’s veto power. One of the main reasons for UN’s issues is the veto power held by the five members of the UNSC. This allows any one of them to block a decision. That even if all other members agree. The tensions between big powers lead to deadlocks on urgent global issues. This prevents actions during crises. Some members use their veto to protect their own interests or their allies. The GA has no power to enforce a decision if a veto is raised. Russia often used its veto to protect Bashar’s Syria. But also, to block decisions related to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. also uses it to protect Israel. This format reflects post-World War II power games. But not current realities. Many states feel neglected in key decision bodies. There are calls for reforms on that matter for equal representation.

Funding dependance. The UN is heavily dependent on few wealthy nations. It relies on payments and donations from member states. These are both obliged and voluntary. But this funding is often delayed, restricted, or driven by politics. This leads to budget shortfalls and suspended missions. It also leads to imbalance between states that provide most of voluntary funding and others.

Weak enforcement mechanisms. The UN cannot enforce its decisions without the help of its members. It relies on compliance and contributions. If states decide to not contribute with funds or personnel, then the UN has no power to act. Plus, the ICJ rulings are often ignored by powerful states. This leads to a lack of accountability for law violations.

Ineffective peacekeeping missions. Ukraine or Gaza are not UN’s only failures. Many missions under the UN failed to protect civilians or prevent genocide in the past. The UN failed to prevent the horrors in Rwanda and Bosnia in the late 20^th century. UN peacekeepers were restricted in their rules of engagement. They could often only use force in self-defense. They also had no real power to stop attacks, disarm enemies or protect locals. This led to catastrophic failures in both missions. It created a lack of trust in UN missions.

Administrative waste. The UN includes lots of agencies and programs with overlapping roles. This leads to slow response to crises, a waste of funds and a duplication of efforts.

What can be done?

To address the challenges of the UN, key reforms and actions must be taken.

First, a reform of the UNSC is crucial to make it more representative. It should also reduce the misuse of veto power. This often blocks decisive action during global crises.

The UN should also cut down on red tape and make its work simpler and quicker. It must streamline its bureaucracy to improve efficiency. This starts by ending duplication across agencies. This would allow to respond more quickly to emergencies. 

Peacekeeping missions need more money and to be better equipped. UN soldiers should be given stronger power to protect people and maintain peace.

It should also give developing states a better say in key decision bodies. This would increase fairness and trust in the UN system.

Finally, the UN must do more to enforce international law and human rights. This should be done regardless of politics.

Decoding geopolitics isn’t a job. It’s survival.

Joy