Challenges Facing the United Nations (UN)
The UN, originally designed to prevent catastrophic wars, is struggling to sustain peace effectively. As it marks its 80th anniversary, the discrepancy between its ideals and structural capabilities is stark. Conflicts endure and peace agreements fail not just due to complexity, but because of premature abandonment of political engagement. Diplomacy has become reactive rather than proactive.
Structural and Institutional Issues
- UN Security Council (UNSC)
- Historically meant to maintain peace but now reactive to conflicts.
- Lacks a mechanism for continuous political engagement post-conflict.
- Peacekeeping Missions
- Stabilize conditions on the ground but often lack political strategies.
- Peacebuilding Commission
- Valuable but lacks the mandate for active political engagement during transitions.
Need for Functional Reform
Structural reform of the UNSC is essential but delayed. Instead, functional reforms leveraging existing powers under the UN Charter are urgent and feasible.
Proposal for a 'Board of Peace and Sustainable Security' (BPSS)
- Aims to fill the gap in conflict resolution by providing structured political engagement.
- Would not interfere with UNSC authority or sovereign state matters.
- Focuses on post-conflict political strategies rather than pre-conflict intervention.
- Coordinated with the UN Secretary-General and UNSC and would work alongside regional organizations.
Composition and Function
- Rotating membership of about 24 states elected by the UN General Assembly.
- Regional distribution includes Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and West Asia.
- Regional organizations participate actively rather than as observers.
- Agenda items introduced by UN member-states, regional organizations, or the UN Secretary-General.
Principles of Sustainable Security
- Emphasizes political agreements and governance for long-term peace.
- Reinforces nationally led dialogue and peace agreement implementations.
- Avoids preventive interventions while respecting state sovereignty.
Long-Term Vision and Impact
The BPSS would ensure continuity in peace processes, maintaining institutional memory and reducing drift in long-term engagements. It emphasizes the need to sustain peace through disciplined diplomacy and political commitments.
Reform should not be about rewriting the system completely but evolving it responsibly. The BPSS aims to correct the lack of political continuity, a critical weakness of the current multilateral system, by focusing on meaningful, achievable reforms.
Nirupama Rao, a former Foreign Secretary of India, suggests that the BPSS will not redistribute geopolitical power but enhance the UN's capability for responsible conflict management.