ABSTRACT
We critically examine the continued relevance of the United Nations (UN) in the evolving geohistorical landscape of the 2020s and beyond. Situating the UN within historical shifts in global governance, we explore the persistence of hierarchical power structures, the resurgence of great-power politics and democratic backsliding. We assess the institution's dual character – both as a forum for democratic cooperation and a mechanism of great-power dominance – highlighting its limitations in addressing contemporary conflicts, particularly in Ukraine. Additionally, we evaluate the UN's role in global democratisation and world-economic and political governance, emphasising the problems posed by securitisation, economic imbalances and geopolitical divisions. While acknowledging the UN's institutional shortcomings, we argue that, given escalating global risks – including those posed by nuclear weapons and climate change – the organisation remains indispensable. We explore the potential for reform, particularly through enhanced democratic participation and multilateralism, as a necessary pathway for global sustainability in the face of rising existential threats.
