75 years of the UN: sad anniversary?

The United Nations Security Council meeting at the organization's headquarters in New York on February 28, 2020. REUTERS / Carlo Allegri

By: Marie-France Chatin Follow

75 years ago in the middle of the war, world leaders planned and drew the outlines of peace. This was how the Charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26, 1945.

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Countries thus put their differences aside in a determination of unshakable unity to find a way to end the war.

The sky was not completely clear. The euphoria quickly gave way to frustration as the Cold War set in. The observation, 75 years later, remains that since its creation, there has been no more world war ... but many smaller ones ... much too much, of course. The United Nations has always been resilient. Its members went from 51 countries to 193 through the decolonization and the breakup of the Soviet Empire. The Organization sits at the heart of a rules-based world order and its activities, as well as those of its specialized agencies, cover almost all aspects of life. Too many aspects?

The question undoubtedly deserves to be asked. Today, 75 years after the creation of the United Nations, distrust dominates the international scene. The USA is in retreat, Asia is progressing in the face of a disunited Europe and an explosive Middle East. As for the coronavirus pandemic, it was marked by a deafening silence from the Security Council.

What future for the UN?

Guests: 
- Alexandra Novosseloff , associate researcher at the Thucydide Center of Paris-Panthéon-Assas University and non-resident researcher at the International Peace Institute in New York   
Anne-Cécile Robert , journalist at Le Monde diplomatique , associate professor at the Paris 8 Institute for European Studies. Author, with Romuald Sciora of " Who wants the death of the UN? ", Éditions Eyrolles
Arthur Boutellis , senior adviser at the International Peace Institute (IPI) in New York and lecturer at Columbia University. 

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