The state of the UN in a changing world order

Pernilla Rydén engaged with students, faculty members and the public at Salve Regina University, in Newport, USA. Among other things she participated in a public lecture at the Pell Center under the topic “When the world is in fire: where is the UN?”

The focus of the lecture held13 March was around the change of world order and what could be done to adopt UN peace operations to the new realities.

“We live in a paradox: we see more and additionally complex conflicts in the world, and at the same time we have fewer robust UN peace interventions to deal with these situations”, said Pernilla Rydén, Director of the Challenges Forum International Secretariat (CFIS).

She also emphasized the need for more realistic, clearly defined but flexible mandates for UN peace operations, while maintaining realistic expectations on what UN peace operations can achieve.

“Field missions face growing difficulties to understand and address today’s challenges, but a lot can be done to make better use of the UN. The General Assembly could be further strengthened, and the Security Council could be unblocked by a better representation of the world.”

The questions from the audience circulated around the rule-based system of the UN, the function and a possible reform of the UN Security Council, the status of the General Assembly as well as how to get a career within the UN.

Additionally, Pernilla Rydén gave two lectures to students at the Salve Regina University the same day, “How to rule the world – an introduction to International Relations” and “Stale mate at the UN Security Council – introduction to comparative politics.”