Inside Geneva – "Taking the Pulse of the UN at 80"

Host: Imogen Foulkes (A)
Guests: Daniel Warner (B), Fouad Zarbiev (C), Corinne Momalvanyan (D), Pratit Singh (E)
Date of Recording: October 24, 2025
Published: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This 80th-anniversary edition of "Inside Geneva" takes a hard look at the United Nations: its achievements, failures, and future in an ever more complex world. Host Imogen Foulkes is joined by veteran analyst Daniel Warner and features interviews with Fouad Zarbiev (professor of international law), Corinne Momalvanyan (former UN official, now at Kofi Annan Foundation), and Pratit Singh (Geneva Graduate Institute, Project Coordinator from India), each bringing diverse generational and geographic perspectives.

The discussion revolves around whether the UN needs reforms or a “reset”, its continued symbolic importance, its struggles in a fractured geopolitical landscape, and what kind of United Nations the world—and especially younger generations and the Global South—need for the future.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Symbolism and Realities of the UN at 80

• The episode opens by evoking the historic significance of the original UN Charter and the organization's purpose, rooted in the horrors of World War II.
• Fouad Zarbiev notes that much of the UN's enduring importance is symbolic—serving as “the closest approximation of an international community” (05:07, C); however, symbolism is not enough in facing today’s crises.

“At the symbolic level, what is so important about the UN is that the UN is really the closest approximation of international community.” – Fouad Zarbiev (05:07)

2. Achievements and Disappointments

• The UN’s record is debated: it’s lauded for achievements (decolonization, smallpox eradication, ozone layer repair, progress on gender equality, and the Millennium Development Goals) but criticized for current paralysis on peace and security.

  • Memorable Achievements:

    • Decolonization process (16:22, C)
    • Eradication of smallpox (19:04, D; 21:48, A)
    • Plugging the ozone hole and increasing girls’ school attendance (19:04, D)

  • Peace and Security Failures:

    • UN sidelined in Gaza, Ukraine, and other current crises (10:15, A)
    • Decline in peacekeeping ambition and operations (08:48, D)
    • Youth and Global South feel unrepresented and disengaged (11:58, E; 14:28, A)

3. Crisis in Multilateralism & Representation

• The UN is viewed as both too state-centric and dominated by Global North power politics, sidelining smaller states, the Global South, and civil society.

“Many countries who would like to play a bigger global role ... don’t have the voice.” – Imogen Foulkes (12:47)

• Pratit Singh stresses that young people and the Global South feel increasingly alienated, with waning trust in the system, resulting in alternate forms of “South-South” cooperation bypassing the UN (13:18, E).

• There’s a call for a "People’s Assembly" and for greater inclusion of civil society and youth (15:03, B; 20:22, D).

4. Generational and Geopolitical Challenges

• Corinne Momalvanyan likens the UN to an "old lady" needing "tender loving care," not just minor reforms but possibly a reboot/reset (08:04, D).
• Younger generations perceive living through a “poly-crisis” (war, climate change, geopolitical rivalry) and anxiety over accountability and the loss of international legal order (24:37, E).

“It is definitely ... an anxious time, a scary time for young people, primarily emerging from ... the lack of accountability of states to engage in conflict whenever they want, bypassing the framework of international law.” – Pratit Singh (24:37)

5. Structural Problems – The Security Council

• The P5’s veto power and entrenched positions are seen as the heart of the UN’s paralysis (28:03, C).
• The charter drafters did not fully anticipate permanent members being parties to conflict and paralyzing the system (28:03, C; 29:58, A).

6. What Next? – Reform, Reset, or Reinvention

• Corinne: Need for “more inclusion” – voices directly affected need to be in the room, not just “men in dark suits” (20:22, D).
• Pratit: The system must not just invite, but also truly listen to and act on lived experience, especially from the global South and youth (37:10, E).

“If at this moment we have to reimagine the UN and reimagine multilateralism, we have to bring it in from the point of confidence. And this confidence only comes once we account for lived realities of people ... from the global South.” – Pratit Singh (37:10)

• Daniel Warner: The problem is both generational and one of leadership charisma; a new Secretary General could potentially restore a “moral compass” (30:32, B; 32:03, B).

7. US Disengagement & the UN’s Future

• Discussion of what would happen if the US further withdrew or refused payment of dues (34:47, B; 33:00, D).
• Even without the US, specialist agencies and multilateralism could survive, but engagement of the major powers is crucial for impact (33:00, D).
• Calls for more UN offices and agencies based in the Global South (36:16, A).

Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• On the P5 and Structural Limits:
  “The Secretary General will change ... The P5s do not have a limited mandate ... So what concerns me the most is the lack of ambition of the United nations in the field of peace and security nowadays ... the number of peacekeepers around the world has decreased BY more than 30%.”
  — Corinne Momalvanyan (08:48, D)

• On Youth Exclusion:
  “Only 3% of people employed by this system are younger than 30. Half of the world is younger than 30. And there’s a big disconnect there.” – Corinne Momalvanyan (33:42, D)

• Generational Shift Needed:
  “Why don't we have more young people involved in the UN? ... It’s embarrassing to see the two candidates to run for President ... over 70 years old.” – Daniel Warner (38:37, B)

• On Eradication of Smallpox and Lessons for Today:
  “300 million people dead of smallpox in the 20th century, and the world's Cold War warriors got together and said, let's eradicate it. And they did. That's what you get when you work together.” – Imogen Foulkes (39:35, A)

• A Call for Optimism:
  “The UN is what we make of it.” – Fouad Zarbiev (29:58, C)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• 00:24 – 00:38: Historical clips evoking the signing of the UN Charter and mission statements.
• 05:07 – 06:07: Fouad Zarbiev on the UN’s symbolic versus practical value.
• 08:04 – 09:50: Corinne Momalvanyan critiques the loss of ambition and faith in UN peace and security operations.
• 11:58 – 14:28: Pratit Singh on youth and Global South disenfranchisement.
• 16:22 – 19:04: UN’s major achievements listed, including decolonization and smallpox eradication.
• 20:22 – 21:31: Corinne on the need for a future-oriented, more inclusive UN.
• 24:37 – 26:01: Pratit Singh articulates the anxiety of a generation living through “polycrisis.”
• 28:03 – 29:58: Fouad Zarbiev on Security Council paralysis and historical optimism.
• 33:00 – 34:19: Corinne addresses US disengagement and the need for youth inclusion in the UN system.
• 37:10 – 38:21: Pratit Singh on how he would sell the UN to his peers.

Conclusion: What Should Change at the UN?

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

• The UN needs to reinvent itself for the future, not merely tinker with past structures.
• Inclusivity—especially of youth and the Global South—must move from aspiration to implementation.
• Multilateralism remains essential, but without renewed trust and genuine participation, its legitimacy is under threat.
• The Security Council needs reform, but optimism and collective action (as seen in past global achievements) remain crucial.
• Leadership with charisma and moral clarity is needed, as well as embracing new issues (AI, climate, new forms of cooperation).

“If it didn’t exist, we’d still have to invent it.” – Unnamed US Diplomat, relayed by Imogen Foulkes (39:35, A)

Final Message

As the UN turns 80, the episode concludes by recognizing both the organization's flaws and its necessity. Despite its imperfections, an inclusive, ambitious, and revitalized United Nations remains vital for peace, justice, and addressing the world’s collective challenges.

For further engagement, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the future of the UN and to write to Inside Geneva with their own ideas.