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Yes…We Still Need The United Nations
And no, its failures do not outweigh its successes
This article today comes to you in the form of a book review. I was gifted an advanced reading copy and invited to offer a response to it.
The work is called Resolved, Uniting Nations In A Divided World. It was authored by the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. Ban served in this capacity from early 2007 to late 2016.
It’s a memoir of his tenure in office. This book stood out to me as I have been a longtime proponent of the UN; yes, even in spite of all its bureaucracy, failures, corruptions, hypocrisy, vast expense and decidedly western bias or chauvinism.
Agonism V. Cynicism
To be clear, I am, of course, opposed to noble cause corruption. We should always assume a critical and sceptical posture toward our institutions. When the UN fails, we should call it, and where possible, make it pay for its sins.
It is precisely this attitude of agonism, in fact, we should also take toward our temporary, narrow-minded and local self-interest; recognizing the need for some kind of universal advocacy. In a world where there is a potent and well-funded lobby for corporations, ethnic superiority, technology, finance, terror, exploitation of…
