80 Years On, UN is Facing Not Just a Funds Crisis, but a Crisis of Relevance

Times Of India

1. Introduction and Context

This editorial feature marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, coinciding with the publication of Thant Myint-U’s new book, Peacemaker: U Thant, the United Nations and the Untold Story of the 1960s.
Myint-U, the grandson of U Thant — the first non-Western and first Asian UN Secretary-General (1961–1971) — uses history to examine the institution’s current decline in moral authority, operational efficiency, and geopolitical relevance.

The piece situates the discussion within today’s multipolar and fragmented world order, where the UN faces financial crisis, veto-driven paralysis, and the rise of alternative forums like the G20 and BRICS. It asks whether the UN can reclaim its founding purpose as a moral force for peace and equity rather than a platform for transactional diplomacy.

2. Key Arguments Presented

a. Erosion of the UN’s Founding Vision

• The UN’s post-war ideals of collective security and global cooperation have weakened under realpolitik and great-power rivalry.
• Myint-U argues the institution has become bureaucratic, donor-dependent, and politically subservient, losing its autonomy and moral clarity.
• Veto politics within the Security Council have crippled collective decision-making.

b. Financial and Existential Crisis

• Chronic funding shortfalls and delayed or conditional contributions by major powers have eroded the UN’s functionality.
• Beyond money, the UN faces a crisis of relevance as regional alliances and informal coalitions increasingly bypass it.
• Its institutional design struggles to adapt to digital interdependence and multipolar geopolitics.

c. Lessons from U Thant’s Leadership

• During Cold War flashpoints such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Congo, and Vietnam, U Thant practiced quiet diplomacy and moral neutrality, challenging both the US and USSR.
• His legacy demonstrates the UN’s potential to act as an impartial mediator grounded in ethics rather than expediency.

d. India’s Role and the Security Council Reform Debate

• Myint-U supports India’s claim to a permanent Security Council seat, citing its demographic, economic, and peacekeeping contributions.
• However, veto-entrenched powers resist structural reform, keeping expansion gridlocked.
• India must champion reform as a moral leader of the Global South, not merely a power-seeking aspirant.

e. Redefining Relevance for the 21st Century

• The UN must move beyond security to address global commons challenges — climate change, pandemics, AI ethics, and migration.
• Future legitimacy lies in becoming a network of states, private actors, and civil society, not a rigid intergovernmental forum.

3. Author’s Stance

The tone is balanced yet cautionary, blending historical reflection with institutional critique.
The stance aligns with critical realism: the UN remains indispensable but increasingly ineffective.
While sympathetic to reform, the author recognizes that bureaucratic inertia and geopolitical vetoes threaten meaningful change.
The article also resonates with India’s multilateral outlook — advocating reform from within rather than abandonment.

4. Biases Present

• Pro-UN institutional bias: Presumes reform is achievable within existing structures, an optimistic assumption given veto rigidity.
• Global South perspective: Centers India and post-colonial voices, while underplaying China’s and Russia’s influence in today’s order.
• Nostalgic bias: Relies on the U Thant model of diplomacy, possibly outdated in a data-driven global ecosystem.
• Limited counterview: Neglects that groups like the G20 may already outperform the UN in certain global governance areas.

5. Pros and Cons

 Pros

• Historical depth: Connects Cold War diplomacy with present institutional decline.
• Analytical balance: Integrates biography, policy critique, and moral argument.
• India relevance: Explains UN reform through the lens of Indian diplomacy.
• Ethical insight: Revives the UN’s moral dimension, not merely its procedural one.

 Cons

• Insufficient operational detail: Skims over failures in specialized agencies (WHO, WTO coordination).
• Idealistic tone: Advocates “moral renewal” without practical mechanisms.
• Neglect of non-Western frictions: Downplays internal rivalries within the Global South.
• Over-personalization: At times prioritizes U Thant’s biography over institutional analysis.

6. Policy and Governance Implications

a. Reforming Representation

• Pursue Security Council expansion via G4 (India, Japan, Germany, Brazil) or regional rotation models.
• Revisit veto reform and ensure fair geographic representation in leadership posts.

b. Financial Autonomy

• Develop predictable, untied funding, potentially through GDP-linked dues or global transaction levies.
• Reduce dependence on donor conditionalities to restore neutrality.

c. Expanding Mandate

• Institutionalize new focus areas: AI governance, cyber ethics, pandemic preparedness, and climate migration.
• Shift from reactive peacekeeping to proactive peacebuilding and prevention.

d. India’s Strategic Role

• Leverage peacekeeping record and South-South solidarity to lead reform coalitions.
• Position as an intellectual driver of multilateral renewal, not just a claimant for a seat.

7. Real-World Impact

Positive

• Revives debate on multilateral reform and moral leadership.
• Reinforces India’s credibility as a reformist, consensus-building power.
• Sustains public awareness of the UN’s enduring humanitarian legitimacy.

Negative

• Highlights institutional paralysis, potentially fueling cynicism about global governance.
• Risks deepening North–South polarization if reforms continue to stall.
• May sideline effective regional institutions by over-emphasizing UN centrality.

8. Alignment with UPSC GS Papers

9. Conclusion

Eighty years on, the UN stands at a crossroads of legitimacy and obsolescence.
Thant Myint-U’s reflections remind readers that the institution’s crisis is not only administrative but moral — a loss of faith in collective humanity.

For India and the Global South, this is both a challenge and an opening: to redefine multilateralism through inclusivity, responsibility, and ethical diplomacy.
If the UN cannot reform its structures and rediscover its conscience, it risks fading into ceremonial irrelevance.

10. Future Perspectives

1. Incremental Reform: Build consensus for limited Security Council enlargement before pursuing veto reform.
2. Innovative Financing: Launch UN Development Bonds or climate-linked funds for stable revenue.
3. Digital Mandate: Establish frameworks for AI ethics, cyber peace, and data equity.
4. Regional Synergy: Harmonize agendas of G20, BRICS, and UN to avoid fragmented governance.
5. Moral Renewal: Encourage leadership inspired by U Thant’s diplomacy — humility, neutrality, and ethical resolve.