From Stalemate to Synergy-Making the UN Fit for the 21st Century
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- 24 Oct 2025
Table of Content
- From Ashes to Architecture: The Vision and Inception
- The Quiet Triumphs: Achievements Beyond the Headlines
- Navigating the Turbulences: Present Challenges
- Bridging Divides: Reviving the Spirit of Multilateralism
- UN@80 and India@AmritKaal: A Shared Vision for Inclusive Global Governance
- Carrying Forward the Promise of Unity and Peace
On October 24th, as the world observes United Nations Day, we pause to reflect on the enduring significance of this indispensable institution. It is a moment to honour the foundational principles of peace, justice, and human dignity enshrined in its Charter, and to critically assess the path forward in an increasingly complex global landscape. The UN remains the paramount forum where nations, despite their differences, convene to deliberate and seek solutions for the challenges that transcend borders.
From Ashes to Architecture: The Vision and Inception
The world of 1945 was scarred, exhausted, and desperately seeking a new architecture for peace. The UN Charter, signed by 50 nations in 1945, was a foundational text of hope, built on the premise that collective security, human rights, and development were inseparable pillars of lasting peace. It laid the groundwork for a system designed not just to prevent World War III, but to address the root causes of conflict: poverty, injustice, and lack of human dignity.
"More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that, my friends, is why we have the United Nations."
— Kofi Annan, Former United Nations Secretary-General
The United Nation General Assembly was established as the main deliberative body, granting every Member State, regardless of size, one vote, ensuring a platform for universal representation. Crucially, the Security Council (SC) was tasked with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, notably comprising five permanent members (P5) with veto power, a design reflecting the immediate post-World War II power dynamics.
Simultaneously, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was created to coordinate the economic, social, and humanitarian work of the UN system. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) provided the judicial framework, the Secretariat carried out the day-to-day administration under the Secretary-General, and the Trusteeship Council was instituted to oversee dependent territories' transition to self-governance.
The Quiet Triumphs: Achievements Beyond the Headlines
The early decades of the UN system achieved profound, often quiet, triumphs that fundamentally reshaped the global order. Foremost among these was spearheading decolonisation: through the Trusteeship Council and the powerful 1960 Declaration on Decolonisation, the UN actively supported the self-determination of nations, leading to over 80 former colonies gaining independence since 1945. This legal and political pressure dismantled colonial structures, a monumental victory for global equality.
Concurrently, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in December 1948 and championed by figures like India's Dr. Hansa Mehta, established an indivisible, universal moral and legal compass for humanity. The UN’s impact on human welfare expanded through Specialized Agencies like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, which drove significant declines in child and maternal mortality rates globally and contributed to rising life expectancy well before the modern Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Critically, despite Cold War tensions, the UN fulfilled its central mandate by preventing regional conflicts from escalating into a third global conflict. The diplomatic intervention during the 1956 Suez Crisis pioneered the concept of international peacekeeping (UNEF I), and the swift action during the Korean War (1950-1953) created the UN Command (UNC), marking the world's first attempt at collective security. These actions solidified the UN’s indispensable role as a bridge for dialogue and a key driver of global development, culminating in the current 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world's most ambitious blueprint for inclusive global progress.
Navigating the Turbulences: Present Challenges
Despite its foundational achievements, the United Nations is currently at a critical juncture, facing a multi-layered crisis where the spirit of multilateralism is stressed by rising nationalism and global challenges.
The most debilitating structural flaw is the Ineffective Veto Power held by the P5 in the Security Council, which allows a single member to unilaterally block resolutions, leading to diplomatic gridlock. This is evident in Russia's repeated vetoes regarding the war in Ukraine and the US's historical use of the veto to block resolutions critical of Israel.
This inertia is compounded by the Outdated Structure and Unrepresentative Membership of the Security Council, which reflects the power dynamics of 1945, not the 21st century. As Secretary-General António Guterres noted, this necessitates reform to include rising powers like India and other members of the Global South.
The systemic failings result in a consistent Inability to Address Modern Conflicts and Humanitarian Crises, with peacekeeping missions often too weak or under-resourced to prevent atrocities, tragically seen in the estimated 300,000 civilian deaths in Darfur.
Furthermore, the organization is plagued by Bureaucratic Inefficiency and Lack of Accountability, with issues like procurement fraud and sexual misconduct eroding public trust, as highlighted by a recent UNDP Audit reporting 434 new investigations. Finally, the rise of Competing Global and Regional Institutions like the G20 and BRICS further sidelines the UN, as these groups are increasingly seen as more agile in coordinating global issues, such as the response to economic crises.
These powerful constraints have been starkly articulated by leaders from the Global South, who bear the disproportionate burden of global instability and climate change.
As India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has noted:
"The very concept of multilateralism is under attack... The cost of delaying much needed reforms is starkly visible today."
This powerful call highlights that the path forward cannot be one of maintaining the status quo. It demands a revitalized, more democratic multilateral system that genuinely reflects the current world order, giving greater voice and responsibility to underrepresented regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Bridging Divides: Reviving the Spirit of Multilateralism
The future relevance of the United Nations is not a question of if we need it, but how we make it work better. In an age where pandemics, climate change, and artificial intelligence transcend all borders, global problems require truly global solutions. No single nation, however powerful, can insulate itself from these forces.
The way forward lies in embracing a reformed multilateralism: one that is inclusive, networked, and effective. This means accelerating the implementation of the ambitious Pact for the Future, a consensus document agreed by world leaders at the UN, which proposes transformative action on peace, sustainable development, and global governance reform. It means supporting UN initiatives that focus on tangible deliverables: financing the energy transition in developing countries, building resilient supply chains, and leveraging digital public infrastructure for inclusive growth.
"It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it."
— Eleanor Roosevelt, Former U.S. Delegate to the United Nations
It requires a deliberate effort to strengthen the three pillars of the UN system. Peace and Security, by pursuing Security Council reform and investing more heavily in conflict prevention and mediation. Development and Human Rights, by doubling down on the Sustainable Development Goals and protecting fundamental freedoms everywhere. Climate and the Global Commons, by ensuring binding commitments to save our planet and equitably share the benefits of the ocean and outer space.
UN@80 and India@AmritKaal: A Shared Vision for Inclusive Global Governance
India, as a nation deeply committed to multilateralism and a major contributor to UN mandates, is uniquely positioned to drive the necessary institutional reforms. Leveraging its democratic credentials, its status as the world’s most populous nation, and its role as a leading voice for the Global South, India advocates forcefully for a comprehensive overhaul to make the UN more representative and effective.
Central to this agenda is India’s rightful claim to a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council, viewing reform as essential for legitimacy and accountability in global governance. By advocating for greater inclusivity for Africa and other underrepresented regions, India is championing a truly democratic multilateral system that can genuinely address 21st-century challenges. As a bridge between developed and developing nations, India’s diplomacy provides the vital impetus to transform the UN from a relic of 1945 into a robust institution fit for the contemporary world order.
Carrying Forward the Promise of Unity and Peace
As the sun sets on this United Nations Day, let us remember the original pact: a pledge to move from the logic of unilateral power to the ethic of shared responsibility. The world is divided, yes, but the spaces where we can still meet, debate, and collaborate, often the very halls of the UN, are sacred. They are the bulwarks against a complete breakdown of order.
Let the Charter's promise, of a world built on peace, dignity, and equality, continue to be the shared horizon toward which all of humanity sails. The future is not pre-written; it is a collaborative masterpiece we must paint together.
In the words of the late UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold:
"Everything will be all right - you know when? When people, just people, stop thinking of the United Nations as a weird Picasso abstraction and see it as a drawing they made themselves."
This sentiment captures the essence of the challenge: the UN is not an external entity; it is the collective will of its Member States. On this UN Day, the call is for all nations to strengthen their resolve, embrace inclusive multilateralism, and provide the tools, the trust, the political will, and the resources, to enable the United Nations to fully deliver on its historic mandate for a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.
FAQs:
1. Why is October 24 celebrated as United Nations Day?
October 24 marks the day the UN Charter came into force in 1945, symbolizing the birth of a global institution dedicated to peace, justice, and human dignity. The day is observed to reaffirm the UN’s principles and its role in fostering international cooperation.
2. What was the primary vision behind the creation of the United Nations in 1945?
The UN was established to prevent another global war and address the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, injustice, and inequality. Its founding vision emphasized collective security, human rights, and development as inseparable pillars of lasting peace.
3. What have been some of the UN’s most significant achievements since its inception?
The UN has facilitated decolonisation, promoted human rights through the UDHR, pioneered peacekeeping, improved global health via WHO and UNICEF, and laid the groundwork for inclusive development through the Sustainable Development Goals.
4. What structural flaws currently undermine the UN’s effectiveness?
The UN’s effectiveness is limited by the misuse of veto power in the Security Council, outdated representation, bureaucratic inefficiency, and under-resourced peacekeeping missions. These flaws often lead to gridlocks and erode global trust in its mandate.
5. Why is reforming the UN Security Council considered crucial?
Reforming the Security Council is necessary to make it more representative of today’s global realities and emerging powers. This would restore legitimacy, enable fairer decision-making, and prevent the paralysis caused by unilateral vetoes.
6. How does India view UN reform and what role does it seek to play?
India advocates for comprehensive UN reform, including a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council and greater inclusivity for Africa and the Global South. Its democratic credentials and global influence position it as a bridge between developed and developing nations.
7. What are the major challenges to multilateralism in the 21st century?
Multilateralism faces threats from rising nationalism, geopolitical rivalries, and the emergence of agile groupings like G20 and BRICS. At the same time, the UN often struggles to respond effectively to modern conflicts and humanitarian crises.
8. What is the “Pact for the Future” and why is it significant?
The Pact for the Future is a consensus framework adopted by UN member states to drive transformative action on peace, development, climate, and governance reform. It aims to make the UN system more inclusive, networked, and effective for 21st-century challenges.
9. How are the goals of UN@80 and India@AmritKaal interconnected?
UN@80 emphasizes revitalizing global governance, while India@AmritKaal focuses on inclusive, sustainable development. Together, they reflect a shared vision for a fair and rules-based international order aligned with the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world as one family.
10. How can the UN remain relevant in the 21st century?
The UN can stay relevant by embracing reforms, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and addressing modern challenges like climate change, pandemics, and digital governance. Its future depends on adapting to global realities while upholding its core principles.
