The Hindu Editorial Analysis
24 October 2025
The UN matters, as a symbol of possibility
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS Paper II: International Relations – Important international institutions, agencies and fora – their structure, mandate.
Context
As the United Nations (UN) approaches its 80th anniversary, this article serves as a critical assessment of its legacy, failures, and enduring relevance. The world has transformed since the UN’s creation in 1945, with the bipolar order replaced by a fragmented, multipolar landscape facing new challenges like climate change and cyber warfare.
The editorial argues that the UN is at a “crossroads.” Its core principles of multilateralism and liberal internationalism are under assault, and its key body, the Security Council, is a “glaring anomaly” that undermines its legitimacy.
However, the author contends that despite its flaws, the UN remains an “indispensable symbol.” It provides an essential platform for dialogue and performs critical humanitarian work, and its 80th anniversary should be a call for member states to recommit to global cooperation.
1. The Core Challenge: A Shifting World vs. A Static UN
a) The Assault on Multilateralism The “consensus” that underpinned the UN’s founding is fracturing. Liberal internationalism is being challenged not only by autocracies but also by democracies. The principle of “might is right” is re-emerging, and nationalism is increasingly pitted against multilateral cooperation, weakening the UN’s foundations.
b) A New Global Landscape The world of 2025 is unrecognisable from 1945. The article notes that global dynamics are no longer bipolar but “fragmented, multipolar,” with new “non-traditional” challenges (climate change, cyber warfare) that defy old boundaries.
2. The “Two UNs”: Field Work vs. Political Paralysis
a) The Indispensable “Field UN” The author praises the UN’s functional agencies—like the UNHCR (Refugee Agency), WFP (World Food Programme), and UNICEF—along with its peacekeepers. These bodies perform essential, life-saving work on the ground, delivering aid and protecting the vulnerable.
b) The “Normative UN” The UN’s “most underappreciated asset” is its normative influence. It sets global standards on human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development (via the SDGs). These resolutions and declarations create a “bold vision for inclusive growth” that transcends national borders.
c) The Paralyzed “Political UN” In contrast, the political UN, particularly the Security Council, is often hamstrung. When nations find the UN inconvenient, they “bypass” it, leading to political gridlock.
3. The UN Security Council (UNSC): The “Glaring Anomaly”
a) A Crisis of Legitimacy The UNSC is identified as the UN’s central problem. Its permanent membership (P5) and veto power reflect the geopolitical realities of 1945, not 2025. This structure “undermines the council’s legitimacy” and is completely unrepresentative of the modern world (e.g., no permanent members from Africa or Latin America).
b) The Veto and Inaction The veto power allows the P5 to “defy” international law or block consensus, paralyzing the UN on the world’s most critical conflicts. This structure ensures that finding political solutions is often impossible, as the UN is “at the mercy” of its most powerful members’ conflicting interests.
4. India and the New Multipolarity
a) India’s “Strategic Autonomy” The article uses India as an example of the new global dynamic. India’s policy of “strategic autonomy” (emphasising national interest and flexible alliances) reflects a broader trend. India navigates a “multi-polar” world by engaging with various powers (like the US, China, Russia) and regional groupings (like the Quad) without being constrained by the UN, highlighting the UN’s diminished role in high-level security diplomacy.
5. A Mandate for the Future: Reform and a Reclaimed Voice
a) The Need for Structural Reform The first and most crucial step for the UN’s future is to reform the UNSC to “reflect contemporary realities.” Without this, its legitimacy will continue to erode. The author also calls for internal reforms to address the “bloated” bureaucracy, suggesting staff reductions and scaling back “core programmes.”
b) Invest in Agility and Reclaim the Moral Voice The UN must become more agile, with “streamlined decision-making” and “fast-track” operations, especially for humanitarian aid. Most importantly, the UN must “reclaim its moral voice.” Its purpose is to “speak truth to power,” uphold universal values, and defend the vulnerable, a role the author argues is “more important than ever.”
6. Conclusion: The UN as a “Stage” and “Symbol”
The editorial concludes that the UN is ultimately a “reflection of our collective aspirations and contradictions.” It is a “panchayat” (meeting ground) that allows for dialogue even among adversaries.
The author uses the metaphor of a “stage.” The UN itself is just the stage; its failures are the fault of the “actors” (the member-states) who “blame the stage for the failures of the play.”
Despite its deep flaws, the UN remains an “indispensable symbol of humankind’s boldest hope.” Its 80th anniversary is a moment for member states to recommit to the cooperation and dialogue it was built to foster.
“It is both sign and actor: a stage for its member-states, and an actor whom they… are quick to blame for the failures of the stage. As it marks its 80th anniversary, its challenge is to become more representative, responsive, and resilient…”