Try Harder
Three take aways from high-level week at the UNGA. The biggest one is from Barbados PM Mia Mottley: Try harder.
Congrats to Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International. She received a Travalyst award (from Prince Harry!) for sustainability this week, during Climate Week in NYC.
As a lifelong NYer, all I can say is, Eric Adams: Resign.
Friday morning development: After a “will he or won’t he” back and forth this week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly today. Power to the protesters. 👊
TGIF. Really. As “high-level” week at the UN comes to a close, there’s a lot to process and a lot more sleep to catch up on. I spent much of this week at meetings, from a look at the Summit of the Future and its Pact to feminist foreign policy and women’s political leadership. The Council on Foreign Relations had a number of interesting discussions, including one with Barbados’s prime minister, Mia Mottley. All of it happened in the backdrop of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the ongoing war in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, where there is currently a devastating cholera outbreak, and the federal indictment of NYC Mayor Eric Adams, which has a global dimension (in fact a Turkish one!).
This week, I’ve got three thoughts as we wrap up the week:
The Pact for the Future: The UN General Assembly approved the Pact for the Future, but not without drama. Russia, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Syria, and Nicaragua tried to prevent its adoption by calling for an amendment that would stipulate that the UN would respect “national sovereignty” — that is, turn a blind eye to what a country does inside a country. Still, the global body pulled it off. And, on cue, the cynics came out to thumb their noses. It’s watered-down! It’s feel-good without real action! It ignores structural reform!
The UN has 193 member states. In what world could 193 countries agree to unanimously agree on everything? That an overwhelming majority of countries did agree is something to behold. While the UN is an aspirational institution, it is not a perfect one. Its importance lay in its ability to convene world leaders to address an array of issues. That matters. And the fact there isn’t a hotel room available during UNGA week is a testament that others agree.
Great Powers v. the Rest: As previously noted, the US announced that it favors the expansion of the UN Security Council, bringing in India, Germany, Japan, and two African countries (TBD) as permanent members and extending a rotating seat to island nations — without veto power. The US is happy to expand the table, but it’s not willing to concede power.
Bloomberg columnist Andreas Kluth writes that to save the UN the US (and other P5 members) should get rid of the veto, for the sake of multilateralism. That’s precisely what the Summit of the Future was about — and what the Global South has been clamoring for. Without the veto, no country could block resolutions and could possibly make the UN more consequential. Kluth notes that the US uses its veto power “to promote the interests of the US government,” per US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
That’s the same for Russia, who has used the veto the most, 158 times, most recently on its invasion of Ukraine. The US comes in second with 92 vetoes. Their great power rivalry, along with China, is at the heart of much of the UN’s failure to act on Gaza and other conflict areas. While it’s a shame, it’s not surprising. It’s why smaller countries are taking action — and making progress.
Small is Big: Small countries aren’t waiting around for the US, Russia, and China. I mentioned Mia Mottley above. Despite being the leader of a small island nation (population 280,000), she has been a leading voice on international action on climate change and international finance. Yet, it is leadership through partnership. Precisely because Barbados is small, Mottley has been intentional in working through the Caribbean island block (CARICOM) and reaching out to other island nations while also appealing to the leaders of larger nations on areas of commonality.
In 2022, at COP27 in Egypt, Mottley rolled out the Bridgetown Initiative. It is a plan to secure funding for what Mottley calls “climate action.” It would involve development dollars going to low and middle income countries for infrastructure, to balance budgets and invest in alternative energy. It’s compelling — and proof that even if you’re small, you don’t have to succumb to their great power game. You can, as Mottley has said, try harder.
I’m opening up my column to others. Please pitch me your op-ed idea/perspective. Let’s get more female perspectives. Email me on endeavoringe@gmail.com or respond to this post.
Elsewhere in the World.....
On our radar...
What’s the state of Feminist Foreign Policy in the US? Elmira joined her Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative colleagues, Lyric Thompson, Bridget Burns, and Foteini Papagioti for a press briefing. (Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative)
UNGA
While the 79th UN General Assembly will continue through December, “high-level” week, where world leaders descend upon the Big Apple, is over. (Not a moment too soon, it was even impossible getting around on foot.)
What’s in the Pact for the Future? It touches on sustainable development and financing for development, international peace and security, the digital realm, future generations, and the transformation of global governance to be more inclusive of the Global South. Maria Luisa Gambale wonders if it can save the world now. (PassBlue)
Meanwhile, Minh-Thu Pham and Stewart Patrick consider the good and bad of the Summit of the Future. (Carnegie Endowment)
This year’s theme for the UN is: “Leaving no one behind: acting together for peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.” Tirana Hassan wonders if the world leaders gathered in New York will put words into action regarding the mass atrocities around the globe. (Al Jazeera)
Confused by the endless list of UN acronyms and abbreviations? We don’t blame you. Jennifer Peltz breaks down all of the jargon. (AP)
At the Council on Foreign Relations, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley talked about her efforts to get the world body to take action on climate change. Her name is being floated as a possible candidate to become the next UN Secretary-General in 2027. All we can say from watching this is, she would be a force. (CFR)
Lebanon-Israel
Following last week’s exploding pagers among Hezbollah’s leadership, the Lebanese militant group and Israel are inching closer towards war. Israel bombed southern Lebanon, killing several hundreds of people including UN aid workers.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hasan Nasrallah, noted that Israel’s attack on the organization’s pagers and walkie talkies constitute war. Except, it, along with its proxy patron, Iran, don’t want to go there. How will Hezbollah respond to Israel’s provocation? Patricia Karam thinks it through. (Middle East Institute)
Dana Stroul thinks neither side should want war, and outlines why. (Foreign Affairs)
Listen: Our go-to Lebanon and Middle East expert Kim Ghattas talks to Gideon Rachman about the current moment, which she notes is tricky for Hezbollah, Lebanon, and Iran. (FT)
Speaking of Iran, the country’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, was in town for UNGA, making his UNGA debut. He was all diplomacy, writes Robin Wright and explains why. (New Yorker)
US
Watch: It’s less than 40 days until the US election. Disinformation abounds. Interruptrr fellow Nina Jankowicz talked to Annette Young about the rampant misogyny and racism that online disinformation campaigns are spewing ahead of the November 5 vote. (France 24)
When it comes to the global information war, the US still prevails. Yet, as Amanda Bennett notes, China is buying up television and radio frequencies around the world and seeding pro-China content. It’s a battle between the Voice of America and the Voice of the People’s Republic of China. (Washington Post)
Africa
In Sudan, the civil conflict has raged for 18 months with no end in sight. Mariel Ferragamo and Sabine Baumgartner dive into the famine, war, and lack of global response to this crisis. (CFR)
The recent murder of Ugandan runner Rebecca Cheptegei by her ex-boyfriend, less than a month after she competed at the Olympic Games, has sparked new conversations about femicide. Hilary Matfess and Kaitlyn Sims use this tragedy to argue that we need to focus on what is making women more vulnerable to murder. (WPR) #Amen
A number of countries on the African continent are in an unimaginable amount of debt. This is preventing governments from using their funds to invest in their futures and their people, including environmental protection and climate finance. Karabo Mokgonyana says debt cancellation could be the solution. (African Arguments)
Asia
It’s been four years since the Chinese government imposed the Hong Kong Security Law in June 2020. Pro-democracy activists, media, labor unions, civil society, and academia have been deeply impacted. Maya Wang looks at the extent of decline in academic freedom and its consequences. (HRW)
India’s PM Modi met with top US tech leaders this week to push India as a place for innovation and manufacturing, especially semiconductors. Neyaz Farooquee and Vikas Pandey explain. (BBC)
Bangladesh is reeling from political upheaval. That makes it an ideal time to invest in the country, argues Sylvana Quader Sinha. (Forbes)
The Americas
What will a Claudia Sheinbaum presidency look like? Vanessa Rubio describes her as a “techno-populist,” explaining how her background as a scientist will likely influence her policies. (Americas Quarterly)
In Argentina, Javier Milei will celebrate a year in office. He had campaigned on pocketbook issues, promising to lower inflation and improve the standard of living for Argentines (with a chainsaw in hand..) Maria Victoria Murillo notes that while he’s managed to stabilize things, the honeymoon won’t last. (Foreign Affairs)
Kenya will deploy a police force to Haiti. At the UN, Kenyan president William Ruto emphasized his country’s commitment to Haiti’s recovery and its stability. Celine Mokeira reports. (The Star)
Europe
For two and a half years the Russian war on Ukraine has raged, with most of the West opposing Russia – but what is going on with the opposition within Russia? Apparently, they are at their most divided with one faction accusing the other of assaulting one of their leaders. Ekaterina Kotrikadze fills us in. (Wilson Center)
How has Sweden’s leading far-right party shifted its focus toward local politics? Emily Tamkin dives into a new paper that examines this question. (Inkstick Media)
Technology
The feud between Elon Musk and Brazil’s Supreme Court may have just ended. Julia Vargas Jones says X is likely to restore access to its 21 million users in Brazil after an almost monthslong ban. (CNN)
Under the Radar
During European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of her proposal for the new team of European Commissioners, she decided to get rid of the equality portfolio and combine it with another portfolio. This left many worried about the state of gender equality issues in a Europe that is leaning further and further to the right. MEP Lina Galvez, who presides over the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, speaks with Maia de La Baume. (Euronews)
Opportunities
The Women in International Affairs Network put together this useful list of fellowships to apply for this fall. It includes CFR’s International Affairs Fellowship.
And speaking of CFR, Shannon O’Neil, who is the new Director of CFR’s Studies Program is hiring for two positions. Here is the link, which also has a number of other job listings at CFR.
At Columbia, if you’re a mid-career professional, apply for the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program.
If you’re in London, go work for The Economist as a Senior Producer in the Video Department.
Editorial Team
Elmira Bayrasli - Editor-in-Chief
Editors:
Catherine Lovizio
Emily Smith