Originally created in 1945 as a platform for peace between its then-51 member states, the United Nations—now a body of 193 countries—has likewise experienced transformational change. The UN launched with 51 member countries looking to establish a new global order following the devastation of the Second World War. Yet it has since transformed to address the realities of our exceedingly complicated global terrain. Its mission and activities have continuously adapted to meet contemporary challenges, reflecting a commitment to promoting peace, security, and sustainable development.
The United Nations was built on high-minded ideals, designed to help build a world free of the ravages of despair and war. Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the UN, famously stated that the organization sought “not to take mankind to heaven but to save humanity from hell.” This mission was the embodiment of the idealistic cooperation and humanitarianism that initially inspired the founding countries. Over the decades, the UN has worked towards its objectives, which now include the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), designed as a 15-year roadmap to eradicate extreme poverty, ensure universal education, promote gender equality, and foster environmental sustainability.
Looking back, the UN has achieved remarkable successes from cutting poverty and hunger rates by more than half to bringing people together to stop epidemics and other diseases. Along the way, it has promoted economic empowerment for women and helped usher in independence for dozens of countries. Australia’s HV “Doc” Evatt was the third president of the General Assembly. He dedicatedly advocated for the needs of the lesser developed nations to be heard and to have representation within the noble organization. Similarly, Jessie Street, one of only eight women present at the first assembly, insisted on recognizing and addressing sex discrimination in the UN Charter.
The development of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals shows how these goals can offer countries a framework and shield them from today’s 21st-century challenges. In 2015, alongside the Paris climate agreement, the UN reached what Adam Tooze described as “the high point of reformist ‘global governance’.” Together with our host, this collaboration represented the global dedication to address urgent challenges like climate change and promote sustainable development.
For all these positive steps, the United Nations is still too often stumbling. Pope Francis has referred to this incessant, contradictory state of conflict as “the third world war, fought piecemeal.” As current armed struggles persist to kill thousands and threaten the stability of entire regions, hope rests on a swift and effective international diplomacy. The old playbooks of negotiation based on decorum and mutual respect feel evermore outdated in the face of today’s discord and turmoil.
As global dynamics shift, the founders of the United Nations—Eleanor Roosevelt, Doc Evatt, Jessie Street, Dag Hammarskjöld, and others—would likely express concern over these developments. Through their work, they envisioned an organization that would be deeply rooted and committed to resisting war and injustice. The continued prevalence of war and conflict fundamentally undermines their legacy.
Since their adoption, the goals introduced by the United Nations have been redefined, reshaped even, to fit with the new global norms. Now more than ever, the UN is struggling to deliver on the promise of its mission. The world is changing all around us, with new power dynamics and growing pressures and aggression between countries. Nonetheless, it has really moved the ball in remarkable ways. Yet in practice, it takes deep, systemic criticism for not doing enough to end the chronic violence and suffering.