UN & MAINT OF INTL PEACE & SEC

The United Nations marks its 80th anniversary amid a funding crisis and rising geopolitical tensions. Shortly after beginning his second term in 2022, Secretary-General António Guterres faced major challenges, including the Ukraine war and growing divisions between global powers. Conflicts alongside issues like terrorism, climate insecurity, and displacement, are testing both states and the multilateral system. Originally appointed with a reform agenda, Guterres now confronts an existential crisis for multilateralism. Increasingly frequent and complex conflicts - often resistant to mediation, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding - raise questions about the UN’s effectiveness in maintaining peace and security. This course explores key issues such as the role of the Security Council, the limits of conflict prevention, the evolution of peace operations, and partnerships with regional organizations. It also examines UN reform, shifting power dynamics involving the United States, China, and Russia, and the broader impact of recent crises including the Ukraine, Gaza and Iran wars. Finally, it will analyse the 2026 race for the next UN Secretary-General and what it will mean for the UN adapting to a changing global order and the future of global governance.