The United Nations (UN) is an important organisation established in 1945 to promote world peace and cooperation. Today, the various challenges the UN faces in its mission to maintain world peace have become more evident, especially under Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In order to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and to preserve world peace, Guterres reminded the UN Security Council of Article 99, which calls for a ceasefire. In this regard, Israel’s actions were considered as a “threat to world peace”.[1] This highlights the UN’s inherent difficulties and the need to question its effectiveness.
One of the main challenges in the Guterres era is the limited extraordinary powers that the UN needs to fulfil a more effective peacemaking mission in the international arena. This limits its capacity to respond effectively to emergencies. Limited capacity for rapid response to humanitarian crises, diplomatic deadlocks and lack of resources undermine the UN’s ability to respond effectively to humanitarian crises.
The Guterres era has also faced the problem of the lack of UN sanctions in international law. Despite UN resolutions, some countries violate international law and effective sanctions cannot be imposed against these violations. This situation shows that the UN’s ability to protect and enforce international law is insufficient.
The Guterres era has brought to light various problems that the UN faces in its mission to maintain world peace. In order to solve these problems, the UN’s internal structures can be reformed, international co-operation can be strengthened and its capacity to respond quickly to humanitarian crises can be increased. These steps can make the UN’s mission of maintaining world peace more effective.
Another problem during the Guterres era has been the UN’s inability to intervene effectively in large-scale humanitarian problems such as the Syrian Crisis. In this crisis, the UN Security Council struggled to find an effective solution due to disagreements among member states. Despite Secretary-General Guterres’ calls, diplomatic disagreements and conflicting interests among the parties have hampered the UN’s capacity for effective peacemaking. The Guterres era has also been characterised by internal UN structural problems. For instance, issues such as inequitable distribution of UN resources and inadequate allocation of funds to humanitarian projects have reduced the effectiveness of the organisation. These problems undermine the UN’s mission of maintaining world peace.
The problem of sanctions in international law is also an important challenge for the UN. Powerful countries, especially members of the Security Council, cannot be effectively sanctioned for violations of international law. This weakens the deterrence of UN resolutions and negatively affects its ability to maintain world peace. Solving this problem requires stronger enforcement of international law and the development of effective sanctions against violations.
Political tensions among member states are another important factor limiting the effectiveness of the UN. Conflicts of interest among the great powers weaken the UN’s goal of contributing to world peace by preventing it from forming a united front. This situation leads to problems especially in the adoption and implementation of Security Council resolutions.
The Russia-Ukraine War and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have led to a different perspective in the policies adopted by the UN during the Guterres era. This situation has sometimes led to political tensions despite the UN’s efforts to maintain the principle of neutrality between the parties. For example, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflicts in Ukraine prevented the UN from taking a clear position on this issue. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on the other hand, has led the UN to play a limited role in finding an effective solution due to political conflicts between the parties. “I called on the Security Council to exert pressure to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and reiterated my call for a humanitarian ceasefire,” Guterres said.[2] After his call could not be implemented due to the veto, Guterres said that he would not give up.
A number of important steps can be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the UN. Reforming the Security Council, making it fairer and more representative, and basing its decisions on a broader perspective are important. In addition, the operational capacity of the UN could be enhanced to enable it to respond quickly and effectively to humanitarian crises. A more effective structure can be created to reduce bureaucratic obstacles and prevent delays in emergency response. To reduce political tensions between member states, the UN could promote international cooperation and dialogue.
The Guterres era could be a turning point for the UN. The international community’s determination to find a common solution to these challenges can increase the effectiveness of the UN. Steps to be taken in areas such as structural reforms, resource management, diplomatic solutions and strengthening international law can make the UN’s mission of maintaining world peace more effective. World peace can only be achieved through a reshaping of the UN and more effective leadership.
[1] Emma Farge, “Israel’s Foreign Minister Says UN Chief Not Fit To Lead”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/israels-foreign-minister-says-un-chief-not-fit-lead-2023-11-14/, (Date of Access: 11.12.2023).
[2] Andrew Mills, “UN Chief Says He Will Not Give Up Appeals For Ceasefire in Gaza”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/israels-foreign-minister-says-un-chief-not-fit-lead-2023-11-14/, (Date of Access: 11.12.2023).
