{
  "id": 9079037,
  "title": "The UN's future depends on its diplomats, not just its bureaucracy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/the-uns-future-depends-on-its-diplomats-not-just-its-bureaucracy-9079037",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2026/09/22/the-uns-future-depends-on-its-diplomats-not-just-its-bureaucracy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As New York's \"UN week\" unfolds, the focus shifts to the organisation's diplomats and political operators, rather than its bureaucratic structure. Amidst ongoing global conflicts, questions arise about whether the UN is the best forum to resolve these issues. However, the organisation's value lies in its ability to address complex challenges, not its inherent flaws.\n\nA memorial service was held at the UN Headquarters for Nicholas Haysom, a former South African president Nelson Mandela's chief legal and constitutional adviser. Haysom's dedication to doing what was right in various missions showcased his effectiveness as a UN diplomat. His role as a UN \"combat zone\" player on the 38th floor highlights the importance of skilled political operators in tackling global problems.\n\nFormer UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband argues that a new approach is needed to combat global conflicts, pointing to a shift in power dynamics – the diffusion of power globally and the concentration of power nationally. This change may render the UN's previous emphasis on grassroots approaches less effective. Robert Pape emphasizes the rise of conflicts driven by deep-seated political divisions within countries, which require supra-national approaches rather than micro-management through UN-style programmes.\n\nThe UN's extensive infrastructure to address global issues, such as disease, climate change, and hunger, underscores the need for a stronger political team to guide its efforts. As powerful nations grapple with military and technical dominance in conflicts, the UN must adapt with a more nimble but politically driven approach. This may involve internal changes, but it is essential for the UN to remain relevant and effective in addressing the pressing global challenges ahead.",
  "summary": "What’s known in New York as “UN week” is well under way. Assembled are the many parts of the organisation, encompassing humanitarian relief, bureaucracy, administration as well as agencies charged with upholding treaties. Alongside are thousands of stakeholders from heads of state and government to activists. What cannot be ignored are the scores of conflicts, many worsening, in the world. The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "The UN's future depends on its diplomats, not just its bureaucracy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/the-uns-future-depends-on-its-diplomats-not-just-its-bureaucracy",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}