UN Secretary-General's Role in Global Peace: Challenges and UPSC Relevance

Indian Express - Opinion · 10 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · International relations Mains · GS2 International relations High relevance

The upcoming selection of the next UN Secretary-General in 2026 gains significance amid rising global conflicts and weakening multilateralism, highlighting the need for effective global governance and India's role in UNSC reforms.

Key points

UN Secretary-General: The role, often termed the 'most impossible job', is crucial for global peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and multilateral diplomacy, especially during times of great-power rivalry.

Post-war order erosion: The current international system, established post-1945, is under strain with Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza conflict, and South China Sea tensions, threatening global stability.

Security Council paralysis: The UNSC's effectiveness is hampered by veto powers of permanent members, underscoring the need for reforms that India has long advocated.

Legitimacy crisis: The Global South perceives the UN as biased, with outdated structures failing to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities, a concern India frequently raises.

[GS2-International Relations] India's push for UNSC permanent membership aligns with calls for a more representative international order, connecting to its broader strategic autonomy policy.

Mediation role: Successful past Secretaries-General like Hammarskjöld and Kofi Annan demonstrated how moral authority and discreet diplomacy can prevent conflicts, a model relevant today.

Multilateralism paradox: While state-led diplomacy stagnates, non-state actors (cities, NGOs, private sector) are emerging as key players in global governance, a trend India must navigate.

[GS3-Security] Nuclear disarmament setbacks and erosion of arms-control agreements directly impact global security architecture, a core concern for India's strategic policy.

Way Forward: The next Secretary-General should prioritize institutional UNSC reforms, enhance conflict prevention mechanisms, and leverage non-state actors to revitalize multilateralism, with India playing a proactive role in these efforts.

Key terms

UN Security Council

The principal UN organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security, composed of 15 members including 5 permanent members (P5) with veto power. Its structural inequities and reform needs are central to India's foreign policy objectives for a multipolar world order.

Multilateralism

A system of coordinating relations between three or more states based on shared principles, exemplified by the UN. Its current crisis reflects power shifts from West to East and North to South, with India advocating for reformed multilateralism to reflect 21st century realities.

Global South

A term encompassing countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania, often with developing economies. Their growing assertiveness in challenging Western-dominated institutions like the UN forms a key dimension of contemporary international relations studies.

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

A 1968 treaty aimed at preventing nuclear weapons spread, promoting disarmament, and facilitating peaceful nuclear energy use. Its erosion impacts global security architecture and India's stance as a responsible nuclear power outside the NPT framework.