ABSTRACT
M any challenges and opportunities face the United Nations as it confronts evolving security threats in an uncertain political and financial environment. Combating terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) requires sustained and concerted effort among the member states of the first UN. It also requires leadership and a general consensus on goals and strategies. Unfortunately, the politics of the first UN remain polarized, and few states have the capability and will to lead. At the second UN, the election of a ninth secretary-general (to assume responsibilities in January 2017), the safety of UN personnel, the proliferation of nonstate actors (NSAs), and the scarcity of financial and military resources preoccupy UN officials. Efforts to reform the institution to make it more effective operationally repeatedly encounter roadblocks even though reform of the Security Council, peacekeeping operations, and the secretariat are critical for strengthening the UN as a whole. 1 This chapter is devoted to exploring how the UN, broadly defined, confronts these contemporary challenges.
