Old Problems with the New: Reforming the UN Security Council
The end of the Second World War was a calamitous catalyst, laying the bricks and mortar for institutions that were always going to look weary, almost comically so, after some…
United Nations
Need for Protection of Civilians by the United Nations in a war
The United Nations is a global organization that brings together its member states to confront common challenges, manage shared responsibilities and exercise collective action in an enduring “quest for a…
A Brief Neocolonial History of the Five UN Security Council Permanent Members
Understanding the actions and justifications behind territorial colonial behavior by the UN Security Council since 1945. One of the underlying principles of the UN Charter is the protection of the…
Led by China and India: On the Global South Efforts to Fix the UN
In anticipation of next month's United Nations Security Council talks on reforming the inherently archaic and dysfunctional political body, China’s foreign policy chief, Yang Yi stated his country's demands. “The…
Collective Security and the System of UN in International Relations (IR)
An idea of effective collective security is the foundation of the United Nations (UN). Fundamentally, collective security has to be a system to protect global peace and security through the…
The Global South Is Done Waiting for the UN to Solve Humanity’s Challenges
Dag Hammarskjöld, the tragic second United Nations secretary general, once said the organization “was created not to lead mankind to heaven but to save humanity from hell.” Of course, this…
UN Vote Condemning Sanctions Represents Strong World Opinion on Their Increasing Misuse
On April 3 a resolution condemning sanctions being imposed increasingly on many countries was approved by 33 votes to 13 in the United Nations Human Rights Council. While the countries…
UN International Day for Social Justice: A brief reassessment of the successes and failures of the United Nations system
The Common Agenda that stemmed from the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Organization identified the following 12 action goals: (1) Leave no one behind;…
‘Well of Solutions’ or Problems: Why Reforming the UN is Critical
The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly was, in many ways, similar to the 76th session and many other previous sessions: at best, a stage for rosy rhetoric…
The UN Proved Its Usefulness in Crafting Ukraine Grain Deal
The United Nations helps design a deal to ship foodstuffs blocked in Ukraine ports. The United Nations has some bragging rights in Ukraine after months of criticism it could not…
Who Speaks for the World?
Russia’s brutal war upon the nation of Ukraine should remind us that, for thousands of years, great powers have used their military might to launch military assaults upon smaller, weaker…
UN’s highest ever humanitarian appeal falls on imperialism’s deaf ears
On Thursday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched an appeal to the major powers for a record $41 billion to help the 183 million…
Don’t waste the opportunity at UN SC
India acted rather petulantly when it turned it down Pakistan’s request for participation in the meeting on Afghanistan. Alas, India made a clumsy start to its long-awaited UNSC presidency. This…
DR Congo sex abuse claims shake UN agencies and NGO
Media reports said: The aid circle has pledged to combat the scourge of sexual abuse within its ranks following shock revelations of alleged exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.…
Strange Celebrations of the UN 75th Anniversary
Leaders Hated and Feared Make False Claims of Global Peace, Security and Justice “Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Justice in the life of…
The United Nations: Challenges and Leadership
To dream of vast horizons of the Soul Through dreams made whole, Unfettered free - help me! Help me make our world anew. Langston Hughes The United Nations remains the…
End of Hegemony: UN Must Reflect Changing World Order
There is a rational explanation of why India and Brazil, two countries with vast populations and large and growing economies, are not permanent members of the United Nations Security Council…
United Nations: Looking Toward 2020
There are two major issues today that the League of Nations did not have to face. Thus when the League was reincarnated in 1945 as the United Nations, no one…
UN Under Siege: Geopolitics In The Time of Trump
A modified and enlarged version of a talk Richard Falk gave in Geneva a week ago. The audience was a blend of students of all ages from around the world, with almost…
Mendacious War Criminal Obama’s Final Speech To The UN General Assembly
America’s mendacious, serial invader, war criminal, climate criminal and human rights-violating President Barack Obama made his last speech to the UN General Assembly on 20 September 2016, a speech characterized…
Kevin Rudd’s Failed UN Secretary General Bid
Few sights are sadder in international diplomacy than seeing an aging figure desperate for honours. In a desperate effort to net them, he scurries around, cultivating, prodding, wishing to be…
Annual Subscription
Join Countercurrents Annual Fund Raising Campaign and help us
