The UN at a Crossroads: Crisis, Reform, and the Future of Multilateralism

Today the UN is experiencing the worst crisis since its inception. In fact, it is facing three inter-related crises: (1) a serious funding shortfall causing a rapid and large-scale downsizing of the organization; (2) increasing marginalization from crucial processes like Ukraine and Israel/Gaza; and (3) declining trust around the world that the Organisation is well-placed to manage the most important global risks like climate change, the rise of AI, and global health.

How is the UN managing these crisis? What does the recent UN80 initiative mean for the future of multilateralism? What are the opportunities for countries like the UK to shape the reform process going forward?

Speaker:

Adam Day is the Head of UN University Centre for Policy Research Geneva Office and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Department of War Studies. He previously served as senior political advisor to the UN peace operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and political advisor positions for the UN in Sudan, South, Sudan, the Middle East and UN Headquarters. His recent book, The Forever Crisis, tackles the current crisis in multilateralism and argues for an adaptive, networked response.

Discussant:

Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin is Vice President, International, Engagement and Service (IES) at King’s College London. She is also Professor of Security, Leadership and Development at the African Leadership Centre in the School of Global Affairs at King’s.

Chair:

Mats Berdal is Professor of Security and Development at the Department of War Studies. He is Director of the Conflict, Security and Development Research Group (CSDRG) and Programme Director for the MA in Conflict, Security and Development.

About the CSD Speaker Series

The Conflict, Security and Development (CSD) Speaker Series is an initiative from the Conflict, Security & Development Research Group in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. It aims to bring together interested individuals with leading experts and influential thinkers in the fields of conflict, security, and development.