U.N. Secretary-General
47 Articles

U.N. Secretary-General Candidates May Agree More than They Differ on the Way Forward
The seven candidates share a common premise: that the U.N. remains indispensable but is struggling to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

Why the Dearth of Female Nominees for U.N. Secretary-General?
UN member states should expand the field of candidates for Secretary-General by nominating more women for the role.

As U.N. Secretary-General Candidates Make Pitch to be Mediator-in-Chief, Will Peacebuilding End Up On the Cutting Room Floor?
A U.N. pivot back to conflict mediation, suggested in the secretary-general search, will only reap dividends if peacebuilding is high on the next leader's agenda.

In the Race for U.N. Secretary-General, Might a Woman Finally Lead?
In 2026, a decades-old question returns to center stage: will this finally be the moment for a woman to serve as U.N. Secretary-General?

How to Prevent the U.N. Global Counterterrorism Strategy Negotiations from Blowing Up
As the UN marks 20 years of its Global Counterterrorism Strategy, co-facilitators must steer fraught negotiations to protect human rights and preserve consensus.

How the U.N. Can Show Renewed Leadership on Peace Efforts in 2026
To support peace efforts, the U.N. will need to show that it can adapt to the changing world order and not mourn the old order.

As the U.N. Seeks Its Next Secretary-General, a Growing Number of Countries Favor a Woman for the Post
Research analyzing statements by U.N. member states shows at least 94 interested in seeing a woman become the next secretary-general for the first time.

Trump Signals Instrumental Approach to U.N. – But it Could Be Worse
Trump's General Assembly speech could have been worse, but it also showed that if countries want to make the U.N. system work, they can't bank on U.S. leadership.

The United Nations in Hindsight: The Security Council and the UN80 Initiative – What Lies Ahead?
The road to a leaner, more efficient U.N. is likely to be bumpy, but as the U.N. turns 80, its future may lie in being able to adapt to shifting global realities.

Time for Rightsizing: Change is Coming to the UN Counterterrorism System
The UN80 reform process, done well, offers a chance to streamline sprawling -- and too often harmful -- structures to focus on the U.N.’s core purpose.

If the UN and Member States Are Serious About Preventing Atrocities, It’s Time to Reboot a Key Office
Member States claim to want peace. Addressing issues in the "Joint Office" would elevate atrocity prevention as a priority.

What the UN’s Summit of the Future Can Teach Us – When the Dust Settles
The Summit did not reinvigorate multilateralism. Multilateralism survived, yes, but did not exactly get a new lease on life.