Who will be the next United Nations Secretary-General?ーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• UN Secretary-General Selection Process: The procedure involving Security Council recommendations followed by General Assembly appointment.
• Global Instability: The current geopolitical climate characterized by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
• Institutional Credibility: The challenge facing the UN due to its perceived inability to resolve major international conflicts.
• UN Pillars: The three foundational areas of the organization: Peace and Security, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development.

The Selection Process and Candidates

The race to succeed current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose second term concludes at the end of this year, has officially commenced. The appointment is scheduled for the fall. The selection process is heavily influenced by the permanent members of the UN Security Council, as their formal recommendation is a prerequisite for the General Assembly to appoint the new leader.

Four candidates have emerged, with two presenting their platforms at UN headquarters in New York:

• Michelle Bachelet (Former President of Chile): Emphasized that the international law-based order is under unprecedented strain. She advocates for placing human dignity and human rights at the core of all UN actions.
• Rafael Grossi (IAEA Chief): Prioritizes security, arguing that sustainable development is unattainable in environments defined by war and destruction. He highlighted the "enormous doubts" currently surrounding the UN’s effectiveness.
• Upcoming Candidates: Rebeca Grynspan (UNCTAD Secretary-General) and Macky Sall (Former President of Senegal) are scheduled to present their platforms.

Institutional Challenges and Criticisms

The UN is currently navigating a period of severe crisis. Key issues impacting the organization include:

• Failure in Conflict Resolution: The UN’s inability to halt conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East has led to a decline in the credibility of the Security Council.
• Internal Morale: Member states are exerting pressure to reduce the UN’s budget and personnel, which has negatively impacted the morale of the organization's staff.
• The "No Alternative" Argument: Despite these failures, the report emphasizes that the UN remains the only global forum where conflicting nations can engage in dialogue to seek shared solutions.

Strategic Priorities and Leadership Requirements

While all candidates acknowledge the three pillars of the UN—peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development—they differ in their prioritization:

• The Security vs. Development Debate: A central tension exists regarding whether the UN should focus primarily on human rights and development as a means to prevent war, or if security must be the absolute prerequisite for any other progress.
• Leadership Expectations: The report concludes that the next Secretary-General must possess an "unwavering sense of morality" and the strength to navigate the organization through a period of profound global uncertainty.

Synthesis

The transition of leadership at the United Nations occurs at a critical juncture. The organization is caught between its founding mandate to prevent the "scourge of war" and the reality of its diminished influence in modern geopolitical conflicts. The incoming Secretary-General will be tasked with restoring the institution's credibility while managing internal budgetary constraints and balancing the competing priorities of human rights advocacy and security-focused diplomacy. The influence of the Security Council’s permanent members remains the decisive factor in determining who will lead the organization through this volatile era.