Struggling for relevance in an era of changes: The Ukraine war and the UN's future role in peace and security crises

Abstract

While the multitude of threats to international peace and security that we are facing - from armed conflicts to the climate emergency - require strengthened multilateral cooperation, the multilateral system with the United Nations (UN) at its centre finds itself in crisis in a shifting world order. In this issue of BKHS Perspectives, Kirsten Hartmann of the BKHS programme unit "European and International Politics" argues that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has exacerbated existing tensions among UN members and further weakened the UN’s legitimacy and capacity to act. Expecting a complementary role of the UN in future global peace and security crises, she calls for adapting UN peace operations, enhancing UN support to (sub-)regional actors and strengthening UN peacebuilding tools. An effective and relevant UN response to current and future crises depends on more predictable funding from Member States and more influence for countries of the Global South. With its legitimacy being challenged, the UN needs to regain lost trust and credibility and change its structures, mindset and behaviour. At the 2024 UN Summit of the Future, Member States should pursue a bold approach to set the stage for a more effective and inclusive multilateral system.