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THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES
Toshpulotov Shokhijakhon Eshpulotovich
PhD, senior lecturer
Department of General Science and Culture
Tashkent State University of Law
E-mail: sh.toshpulatov@tsul.uz
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14783868
Annotation:
The United Nations (UN), established in 1945 in the aftermath of the
Second World War, has played a pivotal role in addressing the world's most pressing
challenges, including peacekeeping, development, and humanitarian aid. However, in an
increasingly complex and multipolar world, the UN faces numerous challenges that threaten
its relevance, effectiveness, and ability to meet modern-day global needs. This thesis explores
the future of the United Nations by examining its key challenges, such as geopolitical tensions,
institutional inefficiencies, and financial constraints, and discusses the prospects for
reforming the UN to better address contemporary global issues. By evaluating the UN’s
historical achievements and analyzing the present-day obstacles it faces, this study proposes
solutions for making the organization more responsive to the needs of the 21
st
century.
Key words:
United Nations (UN), peacekeeping, international cooperation, global
governance, UN Charter, Security Council, General Assembly, geopolitical tensions,
institutional reform, financial constraints, humanitarian aid, human rights, climate change,
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), multilateralism.
Introduction:
The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945, following the catastrophic
impacts of World War II, with the primary purpose of promoting peace, preventing conflict,
upholding human rights, and fostering international cooperation. Over the decades, the UN
has evolved into a global institution that addresses a broad range of challenges, from
humanitarian crises and disease outbreaks to climate change and international conflict.
Despite these accomplishments, the UN today is facing a multitude of significant challenges
that threaten its relevance in the 21
st
century.
As the international order has changed, the UN’s organizational structure, founded on
principles and priorities set in the mid-20th century, has shown signs of inadequacy in
addressing modern global issues. The emergence of new global powers, the rise of
transnational threats such as terrorism, the growing challenges of climate change, and
ongoing conflicts where the UN has struggled to intervene effectively have created increasing
demands for institutional reforms. This thesis explores these challenges, assesses the UN’s
current standing, and proposes how it can be reformed to ensure its continued relevance in
future global governance.
The Genesis and evolution of the United Nations.
The creation of the United Nations in 1945 was driven by the necessity to build a global
framework for cooperation, following the failure of the League of Nations to prevent the
outbreak of World War II. The founding members of the UN sought to create an institution
that would foster peace, security, and cooperation among states and prevent future conflicts
through dialogue rather than warfare. The UN Charter, signed by 51 member states, outlines
the organization’s primary goals of maintaining international peace and security, promoting
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human rights, fostering social and economic development, and coordinating efforts to address
global issues such as health, education, and environmental sustainability.
The Role of key institutions
The UN operates through six primary organs: the General Assembly, the Security
Council, the International Court of Justice, the Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council,
and the Trusteeship Council. Each of these organs plays a unique role in fulfilling the mission
of the United Nations. The General Assembly is the only div where all member states are
represented, while the Security Council, responsible for international peace and security, is
comprised of 15 members, five of whom hold permanent seats and possess veto power. This
configuration has often been the subject of criticism, as it reflects the post-World War II
power structure, which no longer mirrors the current geopolitical realities.
Achievements and limitations
Since its inception, the UN has achieved notable successes. It has facilitated peace
agreements, managed humanitarian crises, provided a platform for dialogue, and advanced
international law through treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The
UN’s specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have made significant contributions to global health,
education, and refugee protection.
However, the UN has also encountered numerous limitations, particularly in maintaining
peace and security. The veto power held by the five permanent members of the Security
Council often leads to deadlock on crucial issues, such as the Syrian Civil War, where differing
geopolitical interests of the permanent members prevented meaningful intervention.
Moreover, the UN's lack of enforcement capabilities and dependence on member states’
voluntary contributions have hindered its effectiveness in addressing complex global
challenges.
Current challenges facing the United Nations
The Security Council’s Power Imbalance
One of the most significant criticisms of the UN lies in the structure of its Security
Council. The five permanent members— the United States, Russia, China, France, and the
United Kingdom—hold veto power, which means that any one of these countries can block
any substantive resolution, regardless of the support it has from other members. This power
dynamic has often led to deadlock, particularly in addressing conflicts where the interests of
the permanent members conflict. For example, the UN’s inability to act decisively in the Syrian
Civil War or the conflict in Ukraine has undermined its credibility as a div capable of
upholding international peace and security.
Political and geopolitical tensions
As global power dynamics shift, with the rise of countries like China, India, and regional
powers in the Global South, the existing structure of the UN increasingly fails to reflect
contemporary geopolitical realities. The dominance of the West in the UN system has led to
frustrations among emerging powers, who argue that the organization no longer represents
their interests or the realities of a multipolar world. In particular, calls for the reform of the
Security Council to include new permanent members, such as India, Brazil, and African states,
have become more prominent. The lack of such reforms contributes to a perception that the
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UN is an institution in which the balance of power is skewed in favor of a few historical
powers.
Financial constraints and dependence on member contributions.
Another major challenge for the United Nations is its financial stability. The UN is largely
funded by contributions from its member states, which are assessed based on their economic
capacity. The financial situation of the UN has been precarious, with significant arrears in
payments from certain countries, most notably the United States, which is the largest
contributor to the UN’s regular budget. The reliance on voluntary contributions for specific
programs, such as those administered by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) or UNHCR,
often leads to funding shortfalls and inefficiencies. This financial instability weakens the UN's
capacity to respond to crises and fulfill its mandates effectively.
The Crisis of global peacekeeping
The UN has long been a leader in global peacekeeping, deploying missions in conflict
zones such as Rwanda, Bosnia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, the
effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations has been increasingly questioned. Often,
peacekeepers are understaffed, under-resourced, and unable to protect civilians from ongoing
violence. The 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which the UN’s peacekeepers were powerless to
prevent the massacre of over 800,000 people, remains a haunting example of the failures of
UN peacekeeping. Similarly, peacekeepers in countries like South Sudan and the Central
African Republic have struggled to bring stability to these regions. This failure has raised
concerns about the UN’s capacity to maintain peace and security in an increasingly complex
global landscape.
Humanitarian Crises and Human Rights violations
In addition to peacekeeping failures, the UN has faced increasing challenges in
responding to global humanitarian crises. Conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War, the war in
Yemen, and the Rohingya crisis have highlighted the UN's inability to prevent mass human
rights violations and provide effective solutions for displaced populations. Despite the UN’s
significant involvement in humanitarian efforts, its responses to such crises have often been
slow and inadequate, particularly due to political deadlock in the Security Council and the lack
of resources available for large-scale interventions.
The UN’s Role in the 21
st
Century. Globalization and Multilateralism
Globalization has created a more interconnected world, where challenges such as
climate change, pandemics, terrorism, and migration transcend national borders. The UN’s
role in fostering multilateral cooperation has never been more critical. However, as countries
pursue their national interests more aggressively, multilateralism has faced increasing
challenges. The rise of populism and nationalism in many countries has undermined the UN’s
central role in global governance, and the United States’ withdrawal from key international
agreements, such as the Paris Climate Accord, exemplifies this shift away from
multilateralism.
Climate change, sustainability, and development goals
One of the most pressing challenges for the UN in the 21st century is addressing climate
change and its associated environmental crises. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), set out a global framework for addressing key issues such as poverty, inequality,
environmental degradation, and climate action. The UN’s role in coordinating international
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efforts to combat climate change is indispensable, but the organization faces significant
obstacles in mobilizing global cooperation, especially in the face of growing resistance from
powerful countries that prioritize economic growth over environmental sustainability.
Technology and the Future of Global Governance
In the age of rapid technological advancement, the UN must also address emerging
global issues related to cyber threats, artificial intelligence, and digital privacy. The lack of
international norms around technology governance poses a serious risk to global security,
and the UN must develop frameworks to regulate and monitor technological developments,
ensuring they are used for the common good rather than for geopolitical gain.
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