Archive · 29 Nov 2025
UN's decline from global leadership
The United Nations, created to keep peace and help people, is having a hard time.
It was once very important, but now it's stuck because countries are putting their own needs first.
A book about U Thant, a past leader of the UN, shows how things were different when he was in charge.
He helped prevent a big war and did many good things.
But now, the UN is struggling with big problems like wars, climate change, and unfairness.
The book reminds us why the UN is still important and why countries should work together.
The United Nations (UN) is currently facing a crisis of effectiveness and is described as 'gridlocked in dysfunction' by its current Secretary-General, António Guterres.
A new book, 'Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World' by Thant Myint-U, highlights the UN's past success and the need for multilateralism.
U Thant, the first Asian and developing-country Secretary-General, is remembered for his principled leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis and his work against Apartheid and the Vietnam War.
The UN's current challenges include issues like Gaza, Ukraine, climate change, income inequality, terrorism, and rearmament.
The book portrays U Thant's growing despair as the Security Council became captive to power politics, foreshadowing today's challenges.
- Who
- United Nations (UN) and its Secretary-Generals, including U Thant and António Guterres
- What
- The decline of the UN's effectiveness and the need for multilateralism
- When
- Eight decades after its founding, with a focus on U Thant's tenure (1961-1971)
- Where
- Globally, with specific mentions of Gaza, Ukraine, and other global issues
- Why
- The UN is facing a polycrisis and is gridlocked in dysfunction, needing to rediscover its roots in multilateralism
- Organization
- United Nations (UN)
- Founding Year
- 1945
- Current Secretary-General
- António Guterres
- Notable Former Secretary-General
- U Thant (1961-1971)
- Key Issues Facing UN
- Gaza, Ukraine, climate change, income inequality, terrorism, rearmament
- UN's Current State
- Gridlocked in dysfunction
- Book Title
- Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World
- Author
- Thant Myint-U