This Tuesday, September 23, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly will open in New York. Its theme— »Better Together: More than 80 Years of Serving Peace, Development, and Human Rights »—is eminently laudable. It offers an opening in an international context no longer characterized by a Cold War, but rather by real, deadly wars—Gaza, Ukraine—between Europe and Russia, and between Israelis and Palestinians. In this unprecedented context, that wish— »Better Together »—constitutes a hope for ending wars and reviving belief in peace.
The current situation of « hot » wars and trade wars, in which the major powers are the main, if not, the only actors, contributes neither to the credibility nor to the effectiveness of the UN, much less to that of the permanent members of the Security Council. Their reluctance, or powerlessness, or even their direct and indirect participation in wars, weakens trust in the UN. Across the world, populations, increasingly interconnected via social media, doubt its commitment to peace and become skeptical of its effectiveness. Its five permanent members are certainly not coming out on top. Worse, the international community is increasingly perceived not as a global entity but as diverse groups with conflicting interests. The famous « We the Peoples » of the UN Charter is gradually withering away. In that context, and given the current serious antagonisms between the major powers, the risks of a new world war are more real than ever.
Other serious crises—climate change, chaotic regional and international migrations—affect peaceful relations between nations and call for serious action to find lasting solutions for peace. With the current ongoing wars, the credibility of the Security Council is seriously weakened, while the message of the Global South, still to be appreciated, is gaining strength among public opinion and in reality.
The continuation of ongoing conflicts, broadcast through various modern means of communication—weakening the image of the Security Council and that of its permanent members in particular—affects the credibility of the United Nations. Its predecessor, the League of Nations (League of Nations), having been unable to prevent the Second World War, barely survived it.
In conclusion, preventing the already declining international legitimacy from further collapsing remains the responsibility of key decision-makers, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council and other major financial contributors. With the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the millions of refugees and displaced persons, mass migration, and continued environmental degradation, increased effectiveness of the international community should be more than a wish; it should be a vital necessity for all, a « better together » approach.
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah President centre4s and former UN Under Secretary general