UN's Imperfections Won't Deter India's Shashi Tharoor from Embracing Global Cooperation
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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has reaffirmed the United Nations' importance, despite its recent failures in Gaza and Ukraine. Tharoor, a former UN under secretary general, emphasized the need for the global body to become more responsive and representative in today's interconnected world. Speaking at the 15th Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture in Cape Town, South Africa, Tharoor acknowledged that the UN is not perfect. However, he stressed that abandoning the organization would be equivalent to abandoning the idea of common humanity. Tharoor, who served the UN for three decades, witnessed its evolution from a Cold War battleground to a post-Cold War laboratory of global cooperation. He highlighted the UN's efforts to protect refugees and build peace, as well as its struggles in Rwanda and successes in Timor-Leste and Namibia. Tharoor called for a 'moral reimagination' of the UN, emphasizing that the organization's survival depends on renewal, not nostalgia. He emphasized that in an interconnected world, no nation is truly sovereign unless all are. Despite the UN's bureaucratic challenges, Tharoor remains convinced of its importance in addressing global issues such as hunger, displacement, and human rights. He believes that the UN still matters to those seeking shelter, peacekeepers, and diplomats negotiating fragile truces.
