Foreign Policy Blogs

The United Nations

Trump and the Pandemic: WHO’s to Blame?

Trump and the Pandemic: WHO’s to Blame?

President Trump has clearly decided to deflect blame for the disastrous impact of the COVID-19* pandemic in the United States by attacking China and the World Health Organization (WHO). Of the two, the one that is likely to suffer more, with more consequences for the United States and the rest of the world, is WHO. […]

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Coronavirus proves what Ukrainians already knew – the UN doesn’t work

Coronavirus proves what Ukrainians already knew – the UN doesn’t work

  The coronavirus crisis is still in full swing, but attention is already turning towards the international environment we are likely to encounter in the post-pandemic world. With entire countries currently in lockdown and comparisons with major wars becoming commonplace, many expect the impact from the crisis to be genuinely historic. One popular subject of […]

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Making the UN Great Again?

Making the UN Great Again?

President Donald J. Trump has a few ideas about how to make America great again. They’re not very good. In fact, they’re counterproductive and, more likely than not, will promote the long-term decline of the nation. Now, it seems, he plans to apply comparable ideas to the United Nations as well. Making America Great Again? […]

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Our Respect for Sovereignty is also a Call to Action

Our Respect for Sovereignty is also a Call to Action

President Trump issues his first set of remarks at the United Nations. He highlighted the importance of national sovereignty and collective action.

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The Global Order in a Post-United Nations Era

The Global Order in a Post-United Nations Era

In its current form and function, the United Nations is on course to become irrelevant. Times are rapidly changing and while its model has been static, at best.

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Nikki Haley Steps into the Turtle Bay Meat Grinder

Nikki Haley Steps into the Turtle Bay Meat Grinder

With strong anti-UN sentiment among Republicans in Congress and growing Russian and Chinese assertiveness, Haley’s task is not going to be easy.

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Can António Guterres Save the UN?

Can António Guterres Save the UN?

The Secretary-General post requires three things at once: Guterres needs to be a diplomat, a bureaucrat, and a politician.

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UN Reform by the Numbers

UN Reform by the Numbers

For the UN to reflect today’s world accurately, it must reform both the Security Council and national contributions to the UN budget.

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The World Needs Maternalistic Leadership

The World Needs Maternalistic Leadership

With the worldwide rising tide of female leadership, the global public’s call for a female UN leader encapsulates today’s zeitgeist.

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The UN Should Get a Better Deal from Assad

The UN Should Get a Better Deal from Assad

The Syrian government has been exerting a great deal of influence on the actions of the UN aid agencies in Syria. It has leveraged foreign aid workers need for its permission to enter Syria into access to supplies for its supporters while denying vital food and medical aid to civilians trapped in areas outside its control.

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The United Nations’ Struggles in Syria

The United Nations’ Struggles in Syria

On June 9, the U.N. was finally able to get food to residents of Daraya, a small Damascus suburb, for the first time in almost four years.

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The UN Post-2015: Great Decisions Spring Updates

The UN Post-2015: Great Decisions Spring Updates

With Ban Ki-Moon’s term as the United Nations Secretary-General ending this year, many candidates have been put forward to replace him.

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Finding the next UN Secretary-General

Finding the next UN Secretary-General

With current Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon term ending this year, the search for his replacement has begun. Here are the four current nominees with the best credentials and most support.

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A Few Thoughts on Israel at the UN

A Few Thoughts on Israel at the UN

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently spoke at the UN General Assembly meeting on behalf of the Jewish state.

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U.N. Deploys More Peacekeepers in the CAR, But Will It be Enough?

U.N. Deploys More Peacekeepers in the CAR, But Will It be Enough?

Last Monday, in a ceremony at Bangui airport, about 1,800 additional peacekeepers and police joined a mission under U.N. control in the battle-torn Central African Republic CAR), along with the previous contingent of 4,800 African troops and 1,000 international police. The new reinforcements have come from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh, joining others […]

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