THE UN AND THE CURRENT WORLD ORDER
This is the classic example of yesterday’s solution becoming today’s problem. Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States of America were given permanent seats and veto powers on the UN Security Council to guarantee world peace and promote multilateralism. However, the veto power has not only created the absurdity of “one vote is equal to 92… or more or more” that Fela sang about in ‘Beast of No Nation,’ but has also become a key tool for unilateralism and a major impediment to world peace.
Repeatedly, the Permanent Five have used veto to force their will on the majority, mostly without explanation and accountability, effectively neutering the UN and its close to 200 other member countries. Some of these veto holders have also repeatedly violated articles 1(1) and 2(3) and 2(4) of the UN Charter without consequences.
It is thus a welcome development that the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on 26 April 2022 aimed at holding permanent members accountable for their use of veto. With this landmark resolution, the UNGA will meet and debate anytime a veto is used. This is a commendable first step. The veto might need to go entirely. Also, there might be need to expand the permanent membership of the UN Security Council in alignment with today’s reality. Such an important body without India and with
no representation from Latin America and Africa is grossly inadequate for today’s reality.
The UN, without a doubt, is doing a lot of good work in many areas and has expanded beyond its initial mandate. The UN and its agencies have raised the profile of, mobilised resources for and implemented far-reaching interventions on economic and human development, poverty reduction, health, gender, democracy, human rights etc. Also, they have put important issues such as climate change and development goals on the global agenda. But all these great efforts can easily be undone by avoidable threats to peace and security, as the cross-border impacts of the war in Ukraine have shown.
There have been talks of UN reforms over the years, with different meanings to different actors and constituencies. The war in Ukraine which started shortly after Guterres commenced his second term as the UN Secretary General should bring UN reform back on the agenda.
He should see the helplessness invoked by the war as his special call to action. He should spend the remaining part of this tenure to reposition the UN to be a more effective force for global peace and security. Not just a talk-shop or a debating society. Not just a body that discovers its voice and muscle only when the ordinary members are involved but literally throws up its hands in despair when the big boys are the erring parties.
The world needs a UN that remains an enduring force for global development, peace and security, a reformed institution fit for present and future purposes. That is the legacy Mr. Guterres should shoot and work for.