Latest news with #Gowan


Al Arabiya
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
'Not Something to Celebrate': As it Turns 80 and Faces Dwindling Global Clout, Can the UN Survive?
The UN marks its 80th anniversary this month facing a diminished global standing. Funding cuts, particularly from the US, have led to job losses and prompted long-delayed reforms. The principle of multilateralism is under pressure, and the Security Council has been unable to act decisively in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The organization's relevance in an increasingly divided world is in question. Founded in 1945 to prevent another world war, the UN's initial goal has been partly realized. However, conflicts persist globally, increasing the humanitarian needs while donor nations reduce aid. The grim mood at UN headquarters reflects anxiety about the upcoming US review of multilateral institutions, ordered by President Trump, and the resulting job cuts. Despite global changes and expansion of the UN system, its effectiveness is questioned, especially given current geopolitical challenges and US funding cuts. While credited with preventing World War III, the UN faces criticism for its current state. Bolton, a former US ambassador to the UN, considers it in its worst shape since its founding. Gowan, of the International Crisis Group, believes the UN will shrink in the next few years due to various factors. Bremmer, of the Eurasia Group, maintains that the UN remains relevant, despite lacking resources and military capabilities, due to its unique legitimacy in representing the global population. He added, 'The important thing is that as long as the great powers decide not to leave the United Nations, every day that they stay is a vote of confidence in the UN.' Guterres' 'Pact for the Future' seeks to address 21st-century challenges. Potential reforms include merging aid and development agencies. Gowan notes that the UN's New York location facilitates a lot of diplomatic business unrelated to the UN itself, and even intelligence gathering. The Trump administration's undermining of the UN is expected to elevate China's importance within the organization. Bremmer notes that China is poised to become more influential in agencies like the WHO and UNRWA as the US withdraws or reduces funding. Security Council expansion is a key area for change. There is broad agreement that Africa and Latin America should have permanent seats. Despite the UN's current challenges, its structure, including the veto power of major powers, is believed to ensure its survival.


New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Turning 80, UN faces fresh storm of doubts
WITH its influence discredited and its budget in tatters, the United Nations is weathering a firestorm of criticism as it celebrates its 80th anniversary – and tries to convince a polarized and conflict-wracked world it is more vital than ever. The UN's 193 member states will mark Thursday the signing of the organisation's foundational treaty, the UN Charter, on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco. After ratification, the United Nations came into being on October 24. The anniversary comes as the world body faces a multi-faceted crisis that has raised questions about its future. "Since the end of the Cold War, we have seen the organisation struggle in cases from the Rwandan genocide to the Iraq war," Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. "When each big crisis comes, commentators announce that the UN is finished. And yet it still survives," he added. "That said, this is an especially bad moment," Gowan acknowledged, pointing to numerous countries that are "deeply frustrated" by the UN Security Council's failure to act on major conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza. That inaction is largely due to the veto power of the council's five permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – which have competing interests. "The UN system as a whole has a credibility crisis, and it is not clear that the organisation's members have the resources or political energy to rescue it," Gowan told AFP. For Romuald Sciora, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, the credibility issue can only result in the virtual disappearance of an organisation that is already a political "dwarf" on the world stage. "I'm not sure the UN will cease to exist, even by its 100th anniversary," Sciora told AFP. "I see a slow vanishing, and the UN becoming a bit of a ghost," like "these old organisations whose names we have forgotten." But experts say while the UN desperately needs to enact tough reforms, not all of its problems come from within, and it has become an easy scapegoat for its divided membership. Gissou Nia of the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank says she fears that "the approach of might is right... is what is taking hold, and it brings us further and further away from the ideals" that led to the UN's founding as World War II ended. Nia, a human rights lawyer, says she hopes enough people will remain committed to the set of ideals and values "that will keep the UN alive," but still worries about the constant questioning of those values, notably from US ally Israel. "The constant berating from some very loud voices about the UN either being anti-Semitic, or the UN being a waste of funding, or the UN propping up dictators, actually has an impact," Nia told AFP. In a world devastated by the largest number of ongoing conflicts since 1945, and ravaged by major humanitarian crises, "the United Nations has never been more needed," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently. "Our values have never been more relevant. And the needs have never been greater." Funding has nevertheless grown scarce as donors – especially the United States under President Donald Trump – pull back. Given the financial constraints, Guterres launched the UN80 initiative in a bid to streamline operations. Those changes could include thousands of positions being cut. For Gowan, "the UN is a very big organisation, and of course it suffers from a variety of bureaucratic problems, just as almost all big organisations do. (...) So of course it deserves scrutiny and criticism." But, he added, "I think we have gotten a bit too accustomed to having this system at our service, and tend to spend too much time grumbling about its flaws and not enough time acknowledging its successes." The United Nations remains a place where arch-rivals and enemies still sit at the same table to air grievances, and where the smallest member state can have its voice heard. The UN also does important work on the ground, from the World Food Programme bringing needed supplies to more than 100 million people in 120 countries last year, to the thousands of peacekeepers protecting civilians in conflict zones. "The UN was a magnificent tool," Sciora said. "Obviously, it would be worse if it were to disappear from one day to the next."


Iraqi News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Turning 80, UN faces fresh storm of doubts
United Nations – With its influence discredited and its budget in tatters, the United Nations is weathering a firestorm of criticism as it celebrates its 80th anniversary — and tries to convince a polarized and conflict-wracked world it is more vital than ever. The UN's 193 member states will mark Thursday the signing of the organization's foundational treaty, the UN Charter, on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco. After ratification, the United Nations came into being on October 24. The anniversary comes as the world body faces a multi-faceted crisis that has raised questions about its future. 'Since the end of the Cold War, we have seen the organization struggle in cases from the Rwandan genocide to the Iraq war,' Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. 'When each big crisis comes, commentators announce that the UN is finished. And yet it still survives,' he added. 'That said, this is an especially bad moment,' Gowan acknowledged, pointing to numerous countries that are 'deeply frustrated' by the UN Security Council's failure to act on major conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza. That inaction is largely due to the veto power of the council's five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — which have competing interests. 'The UN system as a whole has a credibility crisis, and it is not clear that the organization's members have the resources or political energy to rescue it,' Gowan told AFP. For Romuald Sciora, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, the credibility issue can only result in the virtual disappearance of an organization that is already a political 'dwarf' on the world stage. 'I'm not sure the UN will cease to exist, even by its 100th anniversary,' Sciora told AFP. 'I see a slow vanishing, and the UN becoming a bit of a ghost,' like 'these old organizations whose names we have forgotten.' But experts say while the UN desperately needs to enact tough reforms, not all of its problems come from within, and it has become an easy scapegoat for its divided membership. – 'Worse' without UN – Gissou Nia of the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank says she fears that 'the approach of might is right… is what is taking hold, and it brings us further and further away from the ideals' that led to the UN's founding as World War II ended. Nia, a human rights lawyer, says she hopes enough people will remain committed to the set of ideals and values 'that will keep the UN alive,' but still worries about the constant questioning of those values, notably from US ally Israel. 'The constant berating from some very loud voices about the UN either being anti-Semitic, or the UN being a waste of funding, or the UN propping up dictators, actually has an impact,' Nia told AFP. In a world devastated by the largest number of ongoing conflicts since 1945, and ravaged by major humanitarian crises, 'the United Nations has never been more needed,' Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently. 'Our values have never been more relevant. And the needs have never been greater.' Funding has nevertheless grown scarce as donors — especially the United States under President Donald Trump — pull back. Given the financial constraints, Guterres launched the UN80 initiative in a bid to streamline operations. Those changes could include thousands of positions being cut. For Gowan, 'the UN is a very big organization, and of course it suffers from a variety of bureaucratic problems, just as almost all big organizations do. (…) So of course it deserves scrutiny and criticism.' But, he added, 'I think we have gotten a bit too accustomed to having this system at our service, and tend to spend too much time grumbling about its flaws and not enough time acknowledging its successes.' The United Nations remains a place where arch-rivals and enemies still sit at the same table to air grievances, and where the smallest member state can have its voice heard. The UN also does important work on the ground, from the World Food Programme bringing needed supplies to more than 100 million people in 120 countries last year, to the thousands of peacekeepers protecting civilians in conflict zones. 'The UN was a magnificent tool,' Sciora said. 'Obviously, it would be worse if it were to disappear from one day to the next.'


Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Turning 80, UN faces fresh storm of doubts
Turning 80, UN faces fresh storm of doubts United Nations : With its influence discredited and its budget in tatters, the United Nations is weathering a firestorm of criticism as it celebrates its 80th anniversary -- and tries to convince a polarized and conflict-wracked world it is more vital than ever. The UN's 193 member states will mark Thursday the signing of the organization's foundational treaty, the UN Charter, on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco. After ratification, the United Nations came into being on October 24. The anniversary comes as the world body faces a multi-faceted crisis that has raised questions about its future. "Since the end of the Cold War, we have seen the organization struggle in cases from the Rwandan genocide to the Iraq war," Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. "When each big crisis comes, commentators announce that the UN is finished. And yet it still survives," he added. "That said, this is an especially bad moment," Gowan acknowledged, pointing to numerous countries that are "deeply frustrated" by the UN Security Council 's failure to act on major conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza. That inaction is largely due to the veto power of the council's five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- which have competing interests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Undo "The UN system as a whole has a credibility crisis, and it is not clear that the organization's members have the resources or political energy to rescue it," Gowan told AFP. F or Romuald Sciora, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, the credibility issue can only result in the virtual disappearance of an organization that is already a political "dwarf" on the world stage. "I'm not sure the UN will cease to exist, even by its 100th anniversary," Sciora told AFP. "I see a slow vanishing, and the UN becoming a bit of a ghost," like "these old organizations whose names we have forgotten." But experts say while the UN desperately needs to enact tough reforms, not all of its problems come from within, and it has become an easy scapegoat for its divided membership. 'Worse' without UN Gissou Nia of the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank says she fears that "the approach of might is right... is what is taking hold, and it brings us further and further away from the ideals" that led to the UN's founding as World War II ended. Nia, a human rights lawyer, says she hopes enough people will remain committed to the set of ideals and values "that will keep the UN alive," but still worries about the constant questioning of those values, notably from US ally Israel. "The constant berating from some very loud voices about the UN either being anti-Semitic, or the UN being a waste of funding, or the UN propping up dictators, actually has an impact," Nia told AFP. In a world devastated by the largest number of ongoing conflicts since 1945, and ravaged by major humanitarian crises, "the United Nations has never been more needed," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently. "Our values have never been more relevant. And the needs have never been greater." Funding has nevertheless grown scarce as donors -- especially the United States under President Donald Trump -- pull back. Given the financial constraints, Guterres launched the UN80 initiative in a bid to streamline operations. Those changes could include thousands of positions being cut. For Gowan, "the UN is a very big organization, and of course it suffers from a variety of bureaucratic problems, just as almost all big organizations do. So of course it deserves scrutiny and criticism." But, he added, "I think we have gotten a bit too accustomed to having this system at our service, and tend to spend too much time grumbling about its flaws and not enough time acknowledging its successes." The United Nations remains a place where arch-rivals and enemies still sit at the same table to air grievances, and where the smallest member state can have its voice heard. The UN also does important work on the ground, from the World Food Programme bringing needed supplies to more than 100 million people in 120 countries last year, to the thousands of peacekeepers protecting civilians in conflict zones. "The UN was a magnificent tool," Sciora said. "Obviously, it would be worse if it were to disappear from one day to the next."


eNCA
23-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Turning 80, UN faces fresh storm of doubts
USA - With its influence discredited and its budget in tatters, the United Nations is weathering a firestorm of criticism as it celebrates its 80th anniversary - and tries to convince a polarised and conflict-wracked world it is more vital than ever. The UN's 193 member states will mark Thursday the signing of the organisation's foundational treaty, the UN Charter, on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco. After ratification, the United Nations came into being on October 24. The anniversary comes as the world body faces a multi-faceted crisis that has raised questions about its future. "Since the end of the Cold War, we have seen the organisation struggle in cases from the Rwandan genocide to the Iraq war," Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP. "When each big crisis comes, commentators announce that the UN is finished. And yet it still survives," he added. "That said, this is an especially bad moment," Gowan acknowledged, pointing to numerous countries that are "deeply frustrated" by the UN Security Council's failure to act on major conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza. That inaction is largely due to the veto power of the council's five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - which have competing interests. "The UN system as a whole has a credibility crisis, and it is not clear that the organisation's members have the resources or political energy to rescue it," Gowan told AFP. For Romuald Sciora, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, the credibility issue can only result in the virtual disappearance of an organisation that is already a political "dwarf" on the world stage. "I'm not sure the UN will cease to exist, even by its 100th anniversary," Sciora told AFP. "I see a slow vanishing, and the UN becoming a bit of a ghost," like "these old organisations whose names we have forgotten." But experts say while the UN desperately needs to enact tough reforms, not all of its problems come from within, and it has become an easy scapegoat for its divided membership. - 'Worse' without UN - Gissou Nia of the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank says she fears that "the approach of might is right... is what is taking hold, and it brings us further and further away from the ideals" that led to the UN's founding as World War II ended. Nia, a human rights lawyer, says she hopes enough people will remain committed to the set of ideals and values "that will keep the UN alive," but still worries about the constant questioning of those values, notably from US ally Israel. "The constant berating from some very loud voices about the UN either being anti-Semitic, or the UN being a waste of funding, or the UN propping up dictators, actually has an impact," Nia told AFP. In a world devastated by the largest number of ongoing conflicts since 1945, and ravaged by major humanitarian crises, "the United Nations has never been more needed," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently. "Our values have never been more relevant. And the needs have never been greater." Funding has nevertheless grown scarce as donors - especially the United States under President Donald Trump - pull back. Given the financial constraints, Guterres launched the UN80 initiative in a bid to streamline operations. Those changes could include thousands of positions being cut. For Gowan, "the UN is a very big organisation, and of course it suffers from a variety of bureaucratic problems, just as almost all big organisations do. (...) So of course it deserves scrutiny and criticism." But, he added, "I think we have gotten a bit too accustomed to having this system at our service, and tend to spend too much time grumbling about its flaws and not enough time acknowledging its successes." The United Nations remains a place where arch-rivals and enemies still sit at the same table to air grievances, and where the smallest member state can have its voice heard. The UN also does important work on the ground, from the World Food Programme bringing needed supplies to more than 100 million people in 120 countries last year, to the thousands of peacekeepers protecting civilians in conflict zones. "The UN was a magnificent tool," Sciora said. "Obviously, it would be worse if it were to disappear from one day to the next." By Amélie Bottollier-depois