During a recent podcast conversation with American scientist and AI researcher Lex Fridman, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a blunt criticism of global institutions, particularly the United Nations (UN), calling them “almost irrelevant” in dealing with modern global issues.
This statement has caused widespread controversy, leading to a re-evaluation of the effectiveness and responsiveness of such institutions in today’s geopolitical environment.
The Context of Modi’s Critique
Modi cited the Middle East conflicts in his long speech to voice concerns about the rise in geopolitical tensions around the world and Ukraine and tense relations between the great powers like the United States and China. Modi pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of single nations & emphasized the urgency of coming together & solidarity of the world. On the other hand, Modi bemoaned the fragmentation of the earth.
Against this background, Modi has lambasted international institutions for their inability to evolve and respond to these issues in every effective way. He said, “The global institutions which were established have become nearly redundant; there is no reform in them. Institutions like the United-Nations is unable to play their role.”
Historical Calls for Reform
Modi has long called for revamping international governance systems, and his recent comments are not an isolated critique. Modi emphasized the need for reform and expansion of the United-Nations Security Council in his keynote address of the 69th session of the United-Nations General Assembly in 2014, questioning if a background from the 20th century was still relevant in the present one.
He believed that if there were no sweeping reforms, the United-Nations could lose its effectiveness and credibility.
The Problem of Representation
The current makeup of the United-Nations is a further source of criticism, since many believe it does not fairly represent the geopolitical environment of today’s the entire world. For example, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States are the five permanent members of the Security Council that have the power to veto decisions. The post-World War II power balance is reflected in this study, but the emergence of new, potent players like Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India is not included in this. They have been pushing for permanent representation at the Council to ensure that more than half of the world’s population is represented in its decisions.
Challenges in Addressing Global Conflicts
Modi’s observation that institutions like the United-Nations are not doing their job is supported by the perceived ineffectiveness of the company in addressing recent conflicts. The United-Nations failure to maintain peace and control conflicts has been highlighted by the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine and by the growing hostilities between the US and China. Despite the United-Nations responsibility to maintain global peace and security, powerful countries have often avoided it by acting alone or forging smaller alliances outside of the United-Nations.
The Requirement for Thorough Reforms
The demand for United-Nation’s reform covers a number of main areas:
Security Council Enlargement: Adding permanent members from underrepresented regions to the Security Council, like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, to make it more representative.
Veto Power Reevaluation: Reviewing the veto power of the five permanent members, it has often acted to be a roadblock in the adoption of global crisis responses.
Increased Accountability: Instating measures to hold member states accountable for breaches of international law and to ensure that powerful states are not above criticism.
Efficiency in Operations: The United-Nations agencies and programs should be rationalized in order to eliminate redundancy, improve coordination, & guarantee efficient use of resources.
India’s Role in Global Governance
India, with its growing economy and geopolitically strategic location, has been a vocal supporter of a larger role in international governance. The nation’s participation in United-Nation’s peacekeeping missions, its commitment to sustainable development, and its leadership in efforts like the International Solar Alliance reflect its willingness to take on more responsibilities. Therefore, it is possible to interpret Modi’s criticism to be a call for the international community to recognize & adapt to the shifting power dynamics by increasing the inclusivity and representation of institutions like the United-Nations. Global Reactions to Modi’s Remarks
The world community has responded to Modi’s comments in a variety of ways. Some countries, especially those that have been pushing for United-Nations reforms, have echoed his views and called for a new system of world governance. Others have warned against undermining existing institutions, stating that in order to preserve international stability, improvements must be undertaken through discussion & consensus.