Global Governance in Crisis: Can the UN Survive the 21st Century?
The ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have laid bare an uncomfortable truth: the current architecture of international organizations is profoundly ill-equipped to respond to 21st-century crises. What we are witnessing is not a failure of goodwill, but a systemic paralysis—a rigid, post-1945 framework crumbling under the weight of modern geopolitical realities. If bodies like the United Nations (UN) and various humanitarian agencies are to remain relevant and effective, radical reform must replace the rhetoric of incremental change—a failure most starkly exemplified by the UN Security Council (UNSC). In both the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, the Council—the only body with the power to issue binding resolutions—has been paralyzed by the veto power held by its five permanent members (P5). Russia uses its veto to block meaningful action on Ukraine, while the United States has repeatedly used its veto concerning resolutions on Gaza. This is not governance; it is hostage-taking. When the mechanism designed to safeguard global peace becomes the single greatest obstacle to achieving it, its utility is effectively zero.
This paralysis doesn’t just halt resolutions; it actively fuels instability. When the world’s highest security body fails to act decisively, it sends a clear signal that territorial aggression in Ukraine and severe violations of humanitarian law in Gaza can be conducted with impunity. This erosion of........





















Toi Staff
Sabine Sterk
Gideon Levy
Penny S. Tee
Mark Travers Ph.d
Gilles Touboul
John Nosta
Daniel Orenstein