If United Nations Did Not Exist, Would We Have Invented It?

By Ayman Okeil

As I wandered through the streets of Geneva, approaching the Palais des Nations, I was enveloped by the rich history that emanates from the various buildings of the United Nations. This moment prompted me to reflect on the words of the late US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: “If the United Nations did not exist, we would have invented it.” It struck me as ironic that the United States, a nation instrumental in the creation of the UN and actively engaged in discussions that culminated in the establishment of the UN Charter, seems to be retreating from its commitment to this vital international organization. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump announced the decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN body responsible for coordinating global health efforts. He further pledged to exit the Paris Climate Agreement, effectively sidelining the ambitious targets set by the UN to combat climate change and its repercussions. This retreat did not end there; the United States also failed to pay its scheduled contribution to the UN’s regular budget for 2024. As the largest contributor—accounting for 22% of the total budget—this non-payment exacerbates the financial crises facing the organization.
This withdrawal comes as we approach 2025, the year marking the eightieth anniversary of the UN’s founding. On June 26, 2025, we will celebrate the declaration of the UN Charter, signed in San Francisco, California. Subsequently, on October 24, 2025, we will commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the Charter’s entry into force. At that time, the Charter was referred to as the “Constitution of International Relations,” having been endorsed by representatives of 51 nations after three months of deliberations. The foundations of these discussions were laid by representatives from the United States, China, the former Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, all convened in Washington. The Charter of the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization, comprises 111 articles and 19 chapters, all preceded by a preamble. This preamble encapsulates the promises made by the signatories to protect future generations from the atrocities of war. Indeed, the UN has made significant contributions to this goal; diseases such as measles and polio have been eradicated in many regions, and civilian casualty rates have decreased compared to the conflicts that erupted before the UN’s establishment. Canadian author Steven Pinker, in his book The Better Angels of Our Nature, notes that since World War II, the rate of violence has begun to decline, resulting in fewer war victims. Despite its weaknesses and often incomplete resolutions, the UN has played a crucial role in mitigating violence and calming conflicts across Africa, Asia, and even Europe.
However, 80 years is a considerable duration in the lifecycle of institutions, and the passage of time has undeniably affected the UN. While the organization may not currently meet our expectations, reforming it is far more beneficial than allowing it to weaken into irrelevance. The diminishing effectiveness of the Security Council and the challenges to its decisions highlight an urgent need for reform. The UN’s ability to influence recent conflicts, such as those in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, has been notably hampered. The countries holding veto power often obstruct the formulation or implementation of resolutions intended to end these wars.
Yet, I maintain that this organization, despite its challenges, was not conceived as a means for humanity to achieve a utopian society, as imagined by Plato. Rather, it was established to minimize human rights violations and to enhance the lives and well-being of individuals around the globe. The words of former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld resonate profoundly: “The United Nations was not created to lead humanity to heaven, but to save it from hell.”