TelePolis writes about the current reform initiatives and correctly notes that most of these will not make the UN significantly more democratic. ¹ I think everybody except the permanent members of the security council agree on the need for reform. The question is twofold: What do we want, and how do we get it?
At the moment it seems that *alternatives* to the UN are gaining ground: Groups of nations coordinating their efforts independently. While they are thus weakening the UN as a platform, they are also rather ineffective, I assume. But then again the UN itself is rather ineffective.
That leads to the next question: What kind of structure do we want that is *effective*? We should agree on the ways to exercise power first, I think. Here’s what we currently have:
1. War
2. Economic Sanctions
Only with the necessary power in the background, can you negotiate effectively. That’s why we need a way to exercise power even if we want to do nothing but negotiate. Like a state, we need a way to pass laws, and the means to uphold them.
Unfortunately, I have yet to read of a convincing proposal. And neither do I like war or economic sanctions. 🙁
#UNO