The Imminent Restructuring of the UN through a Historical Realist Lens

By Kung Chan, founder of ANBOUND, an independent think tank based in Beijing.

Western nations are facing growing marginalization within this international organization. As dissenting voices from other factions within the United Nations intensify, the case for restructuring becomes increasingly compelling. Historical precedent can be found in the League of Nations.

The League of Nations, known as the Société des Nations in French, was established on January 10, 1920, at the end of World War I, following the Paris Peace Conference. It operated as an intergovernmental organization and played a pioneering role as the world's first global body dedicated to maintaining peace, serving as a precursor to the United Nations.

The League's primary objectives, outlined in the Covenant of the League of Nations, included the prevention of war through collective security and armament control, as well as the resolution of international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. Similar to the United Nations today, the League addressed various global issues such as labor conditions, indigenous rights, drug and arms trafficking, public health, treatment of prisoners of war, and protection of minority groups in Europe. At its zenith, from September 28, 1934, to February 23, 1935, the League boasted 58 member states.

The League of Nations represented a significant evolution in global diplomatic practices over centuries. However, a notable limitation was its lack of an independent military force, relying instead on major powers to enforce its resolutions and economic sanctions or provide military assistance when necessary. As it stood, support that these powers were not consistently prepared to offer. Moreover, economic sanctions sometimes harmed the League's own member states, reducing their willingness to fully cooperate. The United States notably abstained from joining due to the Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles.

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, the League of Nations accused the Italian military of targeting medical tents of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini responded with the saying, "the League is very well when sparrows shout, but no good at all when eagles fall out".

From a historical realist perspective, the key to international organizations lies in the responsibility of great powers to enforce decisions. This principle has remained unchanged from the past to the present. Between the geopolitical stage and effective control, there remains a vast gap.

Major world powers often feel marginalized amidst prevailing progressive ideals, relegating the UN to a forum for geopolitical farce rather than effective action. This dynamic places substantial financial burdens on Western nations, reaching levels that are becoming increasingly unsustainable for these influential powers. With all these in mind, it is impending for the restructuring of the United Nations to better address contemporary global realities.

The reasoning is clear: Western nations are facing growing marginalization within this international organization. As dissenting voices from other factions within the United Nations intensify, the case for restructuring becomes increasingly compelling. Historical precedent can be found in the League of Nations. If Donald Trump were to assume office again, a significant overhaul of the United Nations might become unavoidable. While current discourse centers on Trump's policies, such a transformation would mark a pragmatic and crucial policy shift.

As the United Nations nears its 80th anniversary, the prospect of its most extensive restructuring looms large, and that is what the world should be observing.

Kung Chan is founder of ANBOUND, an independent think tank based in Beijing, specializing in public policy research covering geopolitics and international relations, urban and social development, industrial issues, and macro-economy.

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