The United Nations in the 21st Century: Problems and Reform

Abstract

The Organization of the United Nations (UN) founded in 1945, is the most audacious experiment in global governance idea conceived to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, worldʼs best attempt at promoting peace and security among nations; fostering cooperation between them on matters including law, economics and social issues. This study measures the UNʼs performance in the 21st century with respect to its major pillars, highlights cases of success and failure, and works out structural and political critiques directed at the Organisation. The United Nations has had some of its greatest success in the area of socio-economic work and humanitarian efforts in categories under which agencies like UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR and WFP have played critical roles in achieving great strides with poverty reduction health and refugee protection. But the UN is no more effective in maintaining peace and security than great power politics, (and) Security Council veto authority means it has proved a failure in preventing mass atrocities and addressing major conflicts. The major critiques of the UN include the lack of democracy in the setup and functioning of the Security Council, political and ideological bias in policy agendas among member states, and blizzards operational bureaucracy. The future of the UN to remain relevant assumes reforms, notably that the Security Council must be enlarged and its veto rights curtailed, as well as empowering its technical and humanitarian branches. And yet, for all its faults, the UN is still needed as an arena to set international norms; to make international law and facilitate dialogue between enemies. The central negotiating forum of the world as global challenges require ever greater global cooperation, the UN will continue to be relevant in the 21st century, precisely with its unique role as the worldʼs central negotiating forum.