UN at 80: Decline of Global Governance and Rise of New Multilateralism

Syllabus: International Relations (UPSC GS II)
Source: The Indian Express

Context

As the United Nations (UN) completes 80 years, questions are rising about its declining ability to maintain global peace and order. Leaders like Ban Ki-Moon have called for urgent reforms, arguing that the UN’s founding purpose has weakened. Many now see the need for a new form of multilateralism suited to a multipolar world.

Historical Background

The UN was established in 1945, after World War II, to prevent future wars and promote cooperation. It began with 51 members and now includes 193, reflecting near-universal participation.
However, its dual structure—“one nation, one vote” in the General Assembly and P-5 veto power in the Security Council—created a lasting imbalance between equality and privilege.

Achievements of the UN

1. Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution
   • Conducted over 70 missions since 1948.
   • Helped stabilise Bosnia, Cambodia, and Mozambique.
   • Example: The UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) restored democracy in 1993.
2. Humanitarian and Development Work
   • Agencies like WFP, WHO, UNICEF, and UNHCR deliver food, health, and refugee aid.
   • Example: During the 2023 Sudan crisis, WFP fed nearly 6 million displaced people.
3. Global Norm Building
   • Created frameworks like the UDHR (1948), Paris Climate Agreement (2015), and SDGs (2015).
   • Example: India’s National SDG Index tracks local progress on global goals.
4. Nuclear Non-Proliferation
   • Supported NPT (1968), CTBT (1996), and nuclear freeze talks with North Korea (1994).
   • Example: IAEA monitoring has slowed Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
5. Voice for Smaller Nations
   • Offers global visibility to small or developing states.
   • Example: Island nations like Fiji and Tuvalu used the UN to demand climate-loss compensation at COP-28.

Persistent Challenges

1. Veto Paralysis
   • Frequent use of veto by P-5 members, especially Russia and the US, blocks action.
   • Example: Russia vetoed a 2024 resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire.
2. Selective Human Rights Enforcement
   • Countries with poor rights records often lead UN bodies.
   • Example: Iran chaired a UN Human Rights Forum in 2023 amid domestic crackdowns.
3. Failure to Prevent Conflicts
   • Inability to stop wars in Rwanda (1994), Iraq (2003), Syria (2011–), and Ukraine (2022–).
   • Example: The UN failed to prevent the Rwandan genocide despite early warnings.
4. Reform Fatigue
   • Declining participation: only 43 world leaders attended UNGA-2025.
   • Major powers rarely attend—Xi and Putin have each attended once in a decade.
5. Stalled Reform Proposals
   • Disagreement over expansion or veto reform.
   • Example: The G4 proposal (India, Germany, Japan, Brazil) has been pending for 20 years.

Emergence of a New Multilateralism

1. Shift to Multipolarity
   • Power is spreading across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
   • Example: IBSA and BRICS+ represent new southern-led coalitions.
2. Issue-Based Coalitions
   • Forums like G20, Quad, and BRICS focus on practical cooperation in climate, trade, and health.
   • Example: The G20 Delhi Declaration (2023) reached consensus on digital infrastructure and debt relief.
3. Networked Global Governance
   • Regional and functional institutions now share responsibilities.
   • Example: ASEAN and AU manage local crises more effectively than the UN in some cases.

India’s Approach and Role

1. Reformed Multilateralism
   • Advocates for a more democratic and representative UN.
   • Example: India’s G20 Presidency promoted “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
2. Developmental Diplomacy
   • Promotes technology and humanitarian cooperation through ISA, CDRI, and Vaccine Maitri.
3. Voice of the Global South
   • Hosted the Global South Summit (2023) to promote equitable decision-making.
4. Strategic Autonomy and Norm Leadership
   • Balances major power relations while advancing human-centric globalisation.

Way Forward

1. Realistic and Incremental Reforms
   • Focus on transparency, financial accountability, and limited veto use.
   • Example: The France–Mexico proposal (2015) for voluntary veto restraint in atrocity cases.
2. Empowered Regional Mechanisms
   • Strengthen AU, ASEAN, SAARC+ for faster conflict management.
3. Functional Cooperation
   • Build issue-specific coalitions on climate finance, pandemic response, and AI governance.
4. Inclusive Global Governance
   • Rebalance power towards the Global South and align Agenda 2030 with trade and finance regimes.
5. New Visionary Framework
   • Like the 1941 Atlantic Charter, a new “Global Charter” is needed for today’s multipolar realities.

Conclusion

The UN today risks the same irrelevance that doomed the League of Nations in the 1930s. The challenge is not to discard global governance but to renew it. A reimagined multilateral order—anchored in accountability, inclusivity, and shared responsibility—is essential for a just and stable 21st-century world.