Paper: GS-II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: International institutions, agencies and fora, Issue: UN Reform and Multilateralism
Context
The United Nations is facing growing strain from major-power rivalry, Security Council deadlock, financial pressures and the increasing use of economic and technological coercion outside multilateral institutions. For India, a weakening UN is significant because its global rise depends not only on national power, but also on access to credible and representative international institutions.
Explanation
1. Why the UN is Under Strain
- Great-power rivalry: Strategic competition among major powers can prevent consensus on international security crises.
- Veto-induced paralysis: A permanent member can block substantive Security Council decisions even when wider support exists.
- Financial pressures: Funding shortages can weaken humanitarian, developmental, scientific and peacekeeping activities.
- Economic coercion: Trade restrictions, financial sanctions, technology controls and supply-chain pressures increasingly operate outside traditional security institutions.
- Institutional legitimacy: Global institutions designed around the post-1945 balance of power face growing demands for greater representation of developing countries.
2. Why a Functional UN Matters to India
- Strategic autonomy: Multilateral institutions provide India with additional diplomatic space without requiring complete alignment with competing power blocs.
- Voice of developing countries: The UN provides platforms for issues such as climate finance, sustainable development, technology access and development inequalities.
- Peace and security: India remains a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping and has a strong interest in effective international conflict-management mechanisms.
- Rules-based order: Predictable international rules can reduce the ability of stronger states to determine outcomes purely through economic or military power.
- Global influence: Active participation enables India to contribute to emerging norms on technology, security, development and climate governance.
3. Possible Priorities for India
- Continue building international support for Security Council reform and expanded representation.
- Pursue India’s candidature for an elected Security Council seat for 2028–29.
- Build issue-based coalitions with countries across regions rather than depending exclusively on traditional geopolitical blocs.
- Strengthen cooperation through emerging multilateral groupings and partnerships committed to international law and effective multilateralism.
- Advocate reforms that make UN institutions more representative, financially sustainable, accountable and operationally effective.
- Continue projecting the concerns of the Global South, particularly on development finance, climate justice, technology access and institutional representation.
Conclusion
India’s growing global influence does not reduce the importance of multilateral institutions. A more representative and functional United Nations can provide India with greater diplomatic space, strengthen predictable international rules and give developing countries a larger role in shaping global governance.
Source: (The Indian Express)
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