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international

“it is not rocket science: The current deep and debilitating micro-management by
States must cease.
trust and support by our The change must come from a fundamentally different

citizens will only be regained policy-setting and decision-making framework—one that
brings together governments, international organisations,
once they clearly understand scientists, business leaders, young people, ethicists,
what our revamped global civil society, etc. Governance is already evolving, and
governments will increasingly no longer monopolize
system does for each of them decision-making. This decentralization process needs to be
accelerated to the extent possible.
in their daily lives.” Speed is now the critical factor. The pace of technological
and societal change is far faster than our capacity to respond.
symptoms of a system reacting to a funding crisis without Unless we rethink how we govern and adapt, that gap will
a long-term, future-oriented strategy. Of decisions being widen dangerously.
taken without a clear vision of what kind of multilateral
system the world will need in ten, twenty or more years. This brings me to the Security Council.
Public understanding of what the UN actually does has If one were to redesign the UN today from scratch, the
always been shockingly limited – even in countries that host Security Council, as it is currently structured and functions,
or work closely with it. That ignorance fuels misperceptions, would not survive. It is not representative, not effective, and
and those misperceptions weaken political support. often not connected enough to the realities on the ground.
Rectifying this is an urgent imperative and the shared It reflects geopolitical realities of 80 years ago and is no
responsibility of UN institutions, Governments and the longer seen as our guarantor of peace and security. Believe
Media. It is not rocket science: trust and support by our it or not, attempts at reform have been going on for the past
citizens will only be regained once they clearly understand 60 years without success.
what our revamped global system does for each of them in The reason lies particularly with the 5 permanent veto-
their daily lives. holding members, who so far insist on maintaining the
current structure while adding only a few more members,
Technology is transforming how individuals and institutions some of them with veto powers. That, as history has shown,
work. This evolution is coming at us at great speed and must is a recipe for an increasingly dysfunctional Council. The
be faced intelligently, strategically, and in an integrated result is a growing lack of trust across the world in that vital
way. institution.
It will irrevocably and dramatically change all our lives What is needed is a Council that reflects regional realities
in ways that are difficult to imagine and must be a major and shared responsibilities and adopts a bottom-up, broad
element in how we craft a future multilateral system. and integrated approach to security—one that reflects the
We urgently need to break down silos. Separate entities understanding that peace is not merely the absence of war,
working independently, not nearly communicating enough, but the result of addressing the integrated and complex
is no longer viable. causes of conflict. As Kofi Annan often reminded us, there
We urgently need to break down silos. Separate entities can be no peace without development, no development
working independently, not nearly communicating enough, without peace, and neither without human rights.
is no longer viable. The UN should ideally be structured
as a matrix management model, integrating expertise, I am therefore suggesting a two-tier system consisting of
knowledge, and operations across amalgamated institutions 5 Regional UN Security Councils, each with 15 members
and aligning collective action with country-specific needs. representing their respective regions, and a 15-member
This also applies to governance. Reform cannot come Central UN Security Council composed of 3 rotating
only from governments. Political systems are short-term, members from each regional council.
constrained by narrow electoral cycles and outdated This would give rotating 75 countries a voice in global
mindsets. Nor can reform come solely from within the UN. security decisions, far more than the current system.
Bureaucracies are structurally set in their ways and risk- Regional councils would handle local and regional
averse. conflicts, escalating issues to the central council when
necessary, particularly in cases requiring the use of force.
UN Administrative and management policies and practices This system would foster regional responsibility and deepen
need to be fundamentally overhauled. The Secretary- understanding, ensuring decisions are informed by local
General and other senior managers must be given adequate realities rather than distant political agendas.
tools to successfully and impactfully manage their outfits. Of course, questions will arise about membership, term

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