Make the U.N. Great Again: The Uphill Struggle Facing The Next Secretary General

The struggle to lead the United Nations into a new era will be an uphill battle for the next Secretary-General. António Guterres, currently in his final term, faces a critical moment as the UN grapples with both political and financial challenges. With major powers blocking the UN's intervention in crises like Ukraine and Myanmar, and the U.S. reducing funding, the next leader will need to continue doing "less with less" while managing a process of institutional decline.

However, there is hope that a new leader could reverse the slide and persuade nations to invest in the organization. The key challenge for the next leader is to find ways to help states de-escalate conflicts and cooperate on global challenges out of necessity, not idealism. The Security Council, the UN's most powerful body, is dominated by five permanent members that have repeatedly blocked intervention in crises, raising questions about the UN's ability to remain relevant.

The UN's financial position is also a major concern, with the U.S. covering only about a fifth of the organization's core costs and a quarter of the budget for its peace operations. Other traditional donors are scaling back, and potential alternatives have not stepped in to close the financial gap. The next Secretary-General will need to balance the competing imperatives of maintaining international cooperation and navigating the era of international competition.