The UN at 75

Learning from a Diplomatic Trailblazer to Tackle Global Inequalities

Guest speaker at the 16th Nadia Younes Memorial Lecture, Dutch Minister Sigrid Kaag, presented ideas for geopolitical challenges in the Middle East and North Africa during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

View Full Article

Restoring (Some) Impartiality to UN Senior Appointments

By Jeffrey Feltman

Fall 2020

At the root of UN appointments lies a tension between member states’ interests, and a commitment to impartial and effective world leadership. Today, the pendulum has swung too far; a rebalance is in order.

The United Nations at 75: Multilateralism at a Crossroads

By Antonio Patriota

Fall 2020

If the UN survived the Cold War and a later unipolarity, shouldn’t it be thriving in a multipolar world?

The United Nations: Tension, Progress, and Failings

By Ibrahim Awad

Fall 2020

The United Nations has taken great strides toward increased global justice and equality, but more needs to be done.

Five Years after Agreeing on the Sustainable Development Goals: Where are We?

By Laila El Baradei

Much more needs to be done on the SDGs, how they are reported, and how they are ultimately evaluated.

The Charter of the United Nations After 75 Years: Personal Reflections

By Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf

On the 75th anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, President of the International Court of Justice, reflects on the Charter’s world-changing history.

Challenges to Migration Governance in the Arab Region

By Amina Abdel-Halim

Since its endorsement in 2018, a wealth of challenges have delayed the full implementation of the Global Compact for Migration in the Arab region.

Deconstructing Fukuyama

By Ibrahim Awad

Spring 2020

Taking apart the arguments of division that underscore the populist movements emerging in today’s liberal democracies

Reinventing Governance for a Fragile and Complex New World

By Ashraf Swelam

The COVID-19 crisis has laid bare the weaknesses of the international system; to fix the present and prepare for the future, we must pivot to a resilience paradigm.

Egypt’s Most Vulnerable and COVID-19

By Elena Habersky

Summer 2020

Are refugees and asylum seekers protected by its strong domestic laws and international commitments?

Are We Seeing a COVID-Created New World Order Emerge?

By Sydney Wise

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has highlighted stark deficiencies in the post-World War II international system, and forces us to choose between the status quo and a new world order.

Sustainable Solutions for an Economic Crisis

By Amina Abdel-Halim

As the world grapples to mitigate a looming economic crisis, a roadmap already exists: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Country to City Continuum

By Audrey Lodes

Government leaders and public policy experts attended the Regional Workshop on Strengthening Migration Governance Across the Rural Urban Continuum.

Beyond Sanctions

By Farnaz Alimehri

Fall 2019

Understanding how North Korea circumvents sanctions offers key insights into the world of WMD finance—and ways to stop other would-be proliferators

Libya’s Dangerous Political Stalemate

By Riccardo Redaelli

October 8, 2019

Until now, most of the external actors involved in Libya relied on a Cold-War “zero sum game theory”, based on the dichotomic vision amicus/hostis (friend/enemy) of classical realpolitik. It is time this changes.

Cohesion through Decentralization

By Alexander Decina

Summer 2019

The rebuilding process in Libya will be complex and arduous but must be done with a focus on local actors and an acknowledgment of the realities on the ground

Reforming UN Peacekeeping

By Ashraf Swelam

Winter 2019

How Cairo views efforts at reforming United Nations’ peacekeeping, especially in the Middle East and Africa.

Civil Society for the Displaced

By Shaden Khallaf

January 29, 2019

To meet the challenges of massive human displacement in the Middle East and North Africa, civil society actors need a common platform where they can advocate. The MENA Civil Society Network for Displacement or CSND sets out to be that.

SDG 16 and the Lessons for Egypt

By Laila El Baradei

The lessons learnt for Egypt from the 2018 United Nations Public Service Awards which were held to recognize nations achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 16.

UN Deputy Envoy for Syria: “It’s an Emotional Rollercoaster”

By Asmaa Abdallah

As the fighting in Syria enters its eighth year, the United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy speaks about efforts to end the conflict.