Reading List on UN Reform

external page2005 World Summit Outcome Fact Sheetcall_made
This summary lists the major decisions taken by the world's leaders at the 2005 summit. It covers the following issues: development; terrorism; peacebuilding, peacekeeping and peacemaking; responsibility to protect; human rights, development and rule of law; management reform; environment; international health; humanitarian assistance; and updating the UN Charter.

The United Nations and the Challenges of a Globalized World: Towards a Quantum Leap From Multilateralism to Globalization?
This policy brief by Victor-Yves Ghebali offers an assessment of the main responses given by the UN to the challenges of globalization at the economic and collective security level.

The United Nations in 2015: Some Alternative Futures. A Workshop Summary
This report by the Stimson Center provides and outlook on the possible form and structure of the United Nations in 2015. The author analyzes international trends that are likely to challenge the UN, and future developments that could test the UN's ability to adapt to global dynamics.

In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All
This 2005 report by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan outlines his plans to reform the world body so that it may better face the challenges of the 21st century.

The UN: Adapting to the 21st Century
This report is the product of a conference convened in April 2005 by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). The purpose of the gathering was to examine Secretary-General Kofi Annan's reform ideas and to begin determining what in practice could and should be done.

The United Nations World Summit - What's at Stake?
This paper by Kurt Klotzle discusses challenges to the functioning and development of the UN as well as proposals for its reform that were prepared for the UN World Summit on 14-16 September 2005. 

Development

Reforming Development Cooperation at the United Nations: An Analysis of Policy Position and Actions of Key States on Reform Options
This study by Silke Weinlich offers a comprehensive analysis of the positions of industrialized countries and developing countries in terms of specific reform options for the design of UN development aid.

A Sustainable Development Council. In the Run-up to Rio 2012: Options for Reforming the UN Sustainability Institutions
This comment by Marianne Beisheim, Birgit Lode and Nils Simon look at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, where the UN institutions that deal with sustainable development are to be reconstructed.

UN System Development Assistance: Issues for Congress
This report by Luisa Blanchfield discusses the origins and evolving role of the UN Development System and its perceived strengths and weaknesses.

Peace and Collective Security

The Reform of the UN Security Council
This working paper by Natalino Ronzitti reviews the proposals for reform of the UN Security Council put forward since the 1950s, and evaluates the most recent ones in order to see whether reform is desirable and/or feasible.

UN Security Council Reform: A Gordian Knot?
This policy brief by Daniel Trachsler discusses the need for Security Council reform and examines competing reform models and controversial issues.

Establishing the Future State of the Peacebuilding Commission: Perspectives on Africa
The working paper by Kwesi Aning and Ernest Lartey discusses the strategic role of the Peacebuilding Commission as a vital component in the attainment of the UN's new peacebuilding vision and architecture and examines its potential implications for sustainable peace in Africa.

A New Grand Bargain for Peace: Towards a Reformation in International Security Law
This publication by Greg Austin and Ken Berry advocates a "political reformation" of the UN system following the changes in global power relations.

A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility
This report by the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change to the UN Secretary-General assesses current threats to international peace and security and offers a number of recommendations on how the UN could be reformed to meet those challenges.

Human Rights and the Rule of Law

The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress
This report by Luisa Blanchfield provides historical background of the of the Human Rights Council, including the role of the previous Commission on Human Rights.

Who Failed Whom? Assessing the UN´s Human Rights Efforts
This paper by Balakrishnan Rajagopal discusses the replacement of the UN's Commission on Human Rights with the new UN Human Rights Council. The author examines whether the old Commission has really failed and how the new Council has developed.

Strengthening the UN (Institutional Matters and Management)

United Nations Reform: US Policy and International Perspectives
This report by Luisa Blanchfield reflects the US' main concern with UN reform: improving management of the organization in order to make it more effective, efficient and accountable.

Accountability in the United Nations
This report by Morten Skumsrud Andersen and Ole Jacob Sending presents the key findings from a study of the role and functioning of the UN's Board of Auditors, the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Joint Inspection Unit.

Accountability and the United Nations System
This policy brief by Michael Fowler and Sumihiro Kuyama addresses the meaning and implication of the concept of accountability within the framework of the UN as well as calls for its thorough application.