The United Nations Foundation was established in 1945 and has been a key element of international governance with the objective of promoting peace, support, and development among the 193 states that are members of the organization. With the world faced with a myriad of complex challenges such as climate change, geopolitical rivalries, technological disruptions, and pandemics, questions are being asked of the relevance of the UN. So, can we say that the UN is a key actor in international management? This article will be discussing the strengths, challenges, and ways to relevance of the UN using specific instances and facts to establish its role and potential.

 

The UN's Historical Role and Achievements:

The UN was established to avoid world conflicts and encourage cooperation. The accomplishments of the organization are remarkable: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) created a framework of global human rights, shaping national constitutions all over the globe. In countries where UN peacekeeping missions have been in operation, such as the participation in Namibia in the 1990s, democratic transitions have been facilitated, with 90% of all Namibians voting in the first free elections under UN influence. There is growing momentum behind the UN Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs, which have helped halve global extreme poverty between 2015 and 2019 (World Bank data shows that the global rate of extreme poverty stood at 10.1 percent in 2015 and 8.6 percent in 2019).

 

International agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), organized the worldwide successful eradication of smallpox (1980), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has served 26 million refugees in 2023. A good example of the convening power of the UN is the Paris Climate Agreement (2015), when 196 countries agreed to limit global warming in a multinational rapprochement supported by the UN.

 

Challenges to the UN's Relevance:

Despite these successes, the UN faces structural and political hurdles. The Security Council's five permanent members (P5)- the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France-wield veto power, often stalling action. The rise of new powers, particularly from the Global South, like China, India, and Brazil, challenges the outdated structure of the US Security Council, reflecting the post-World War 2 power dynamics rather than today's geopolitical landscape. The Security Council's decision-making process, especially the veto power held by its five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US), often leads to inaction or slow responses to global crises. This was evident in the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, where resolutions faced obstacles due to the interests of major powers.

 

 For example, Russia's vetoes blocked resolutions on Syria's civil war 17 times between 2011 and 2023, per UN records, undermining efforts to address 400,000 deaths. This 1945 structure excludes emerging powers like India, which contributes 5,500 troops to UN peacekeeping, more than any P5 nation except China.

 

Funding constraints also limit the UN's impact. Its 2023 core budget of $3.4 billion relies on member states, with the U.S. contributing 22%. The Trump administration's 2017-2020 funding cuts, reducing WHO contributions by $400 million, weakened pandemic preparedness. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, such as overlapping mandates between UNICEF and WHO, further dilute effectiveness.

 

The rise of regional organizations like the African Union, which mediate Ethiopia's 2022 Tigray peace deal, and alternative frameworks like China's Belt and Road Initiative, involving 140 countries, challenges the UN's centrality. Non-state actors, such as tech firms like Microsoft, which sets AI standards independently, and groups like ISIS, operating beyond state control, complicate governance.

 

Technological advancements also outpace the UN. In 2023, global AI investments reached $91 billion, per Stanford's AI Index, but the UN's 2020 Roadmap for Digital Cooperation lacks binding mechanisms to regulate AI or cyber threats, leaving governance to national policies or private firms.

 

Emerging Trends in Global Governance:

Several trends shape the UN's future role. Multipolarity is evident, with China's GDP (PPP) at $33 trillion in 2024, nearly matching the U.S.'s $34 trillion, per IMF data. Middle powers like India and the EU demand greater influence, with India advocating for a Security Council seat since 2005.

 

Climate change is urgent, with 2023 being the hottest year on record, per NASA, and global CO2 emissions at 37.4 billion tons. The UN's COP26 (2021) saw pledges to cut emissions, but developed nations delivered only $89 billion of the promised $100 billion annual climate finance for developing countries by 2023.

Digital governance is critical, with 5.4 billion internet users in 2024, per ITU data. Cyberattacks, like the 2021 Colonial Pipeline hack, highlight the need for global standards, yet the UN's efforts remain advisory. Public distrust, fueled by populist rhetoric on platforms like X, where 60% of U.S. users in a 2023 Pew survey viewed multilateralism skeptically, further challenges the UN. 

 

Pathways for the UN's Future Relevance:

To stay relevant, the UN must adapt strategically, supported by concrete examples:

 

1. Security Council Reform:

Expanding the Security Council to include India, Brazil, or an African representative could reflect modern geopolitics. India's $3.9 trillion GDP and peacekeeping contributions justify its inclusion. A 2023 UN General Assembly vote showed 113 countries supporting reform, though P5 resistance persists. Limiting veto use in genocide cases, as proposed by France in 2015, could reduce paralysis.

 

2. Strengthening Partnerships:

Partnerships with non-state actors enhance impact. The UN's COVAX initiative, partnering with GAVI and vaccine makers, delivered 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to 144 countries by 2023. Collaborating with tech firms like Google on AI ethics or with the African Union on peacebuilding could streamline efforts.

 

3. Leveraging Technology:

A dedicated UN body of digital governance could set AI and cybersecurity standards. The IAEA's success in nuclear oversight-inspecting 1,800 facilities in 2023- offers a model. A similar body could regulate AI, given 42% of global firms adopted AI in 2024, per McKinsey.

 

4. Enhancing Public Engagement:

The UN must counter distrust via platforms like X, where #UNReform trended with 500,000 posts in 2024. Highlighting successes, like reducing global child mortality by 59% since 1990, can rebuild trust, especially among U.S. and global youth.

 

5. Climate Change:

The UN must enforce Paris Agreement commitments. Its Green Climate Fund supported 200 projects with $12 billion by 2023, but scaling private investment via partnership, like UNEP's Finance Initiative mobilizing $150 trillion in assets, is vital.

The Role of the United States

The U.S., contributing $18 billion to UN programs since 2021, per State Department data, is pivotal. Its rejoining of the Paris Agreement and WHO under Biden reversed Trump-era withdrawals, but domestic skepticism, with 48% of Americans in a 2024 Gallup poll questioning UN effectiveness, requires sustained advocacy.

 

Conclusion

The UN’s historical successes, from smallpox eradication to the SDGs, underscore its potential, but veto paralysis, funding gaps, and technological lags threaten its relevance. By reforming the Security Council, forging partnerships, regulating technology, engaging publics, and leading on climate, the UN can adapt. Specific examples—India’s peacekeeping, COVAX’s vaccine delivery, and climate finance shortfalls—highlight the stakes. For the U.S. and the world, a revitalized UN is essential to address shared challenges, ensuring its place in the future of global governance.