In a recent podcast conversation with Adam Lupel, we explored the growing mismatch between today’s global risks and the United Nations’ capacity to respond effectively. Our discussion ranged from Security Council paralysis and the corrosive effects of veto use, to the UN’s limited ability to address contemporary threats such as civil conflict, state fragility, and transnational risks. We also examined why disarmament and prevention—once central to the UN’s mission—have weakened, and what it would take to restore them as credible pillars of collective security. Importantly, we considered forward-looking ideas, including the role of an Earth System Council in addressing planetary instability as a security issue, and the need to deepen civil society participation to strengthen legitimacy. These questions go to the heart of a broader challenge: how to modernize global governance so the UN can evolve into a more effective, problem-solving institution at the center of international cooperation. We invite you to listen to the full conversation and engage with these critical issues.

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In this episode, Jojo Mehta, CEO of Stop Ecocide International, explores the growing global movement to recognize ecocide as an international crime. Building on the vision she developed with the late Polly Higgins, Mehta explains why criminal law—alongside regulation—is essential to closing accountability gaps in a fragmented world. She reflects on the milestones that have moved ecocide from the margins to mainstream legal and diplomatic debate, and what its adoption could mean in practice for governments, corporations, and investors confronting the climate crisis. Looking ahead, she outlines practical steps for action and a credible pathway toward systemic change. This is a thoughtful and persuasive conversation that makes a powerful case for why ecocide law could reshape global incentives—well worth a listen.

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Artificial intelligence is transforming the global information ecosystem at breathtaking speed. In this timely conversation, Julia Haas, Head of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media’s AI & Freedom of Expression project, examines what this means for journalism, democratic governance, and human rights.

We discuss the rise of deepfakes and AI-driven disinformation, the concentration of power in big tech platforms, and the economic vulnerabilities of modern newsrooms. How do we preserve information integrity without enabling censorship? How can regulation enhance accountability without strengthening state control? And as media organizations increasingly adopt AI tools, how can trust be protected?

Julia argues that safeguarding media freedom in the age of AI is not merely a technological challenge—it is a democratic test. Multilateral cooperation, principled regulation, and stronger public-interest infrastructure will be essential if innovation is to reinforce, rather than erode, open societies.

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In this wide-ranging discussion, Professor Peter J. Hoffman argues that the United Nations’ current paralysis reflects a deeper crisis of legitimacy rather than a temporary political impasse. He examines why incremental reform is no longer sufficient, probing core questions of Security Council authority, democratic representation beyond states, the governance of planetary risk, and the constitutional status of human rights. Drawing on historical experience with institutional change, Hoffman situates the Second UN Charter between realism and ambition, contending that transformative reform often appears unrealistic until conditions make its necessity undeniable. As he concludes, what is dismissed today as idealism may, with the passage of time, come to be seen as the most realistic response to a system no longer fit for purpose.

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In this excerpt from CBC Ideas, Augusto López-Claros reflects on a rapidly changing world and the civic movements demanding that the UN evolve with it. From the failures of the current system to the rising pressure from civil society, he outlines why the UN Charter’s original architects left behind a little-known pathway — Article 109 — designed to ensure periodic review. Nearly 80 years later, that review has never happened. This episode explores why now may be the moment to invoke it, and how a global coalition is working to modernize multilateralism for the 21st century.

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Martin Kreutner, Dean Emeritus of the International Anti-Corruption Academy and a distinguished former member of the Austrian Federal Appeals Tribunal traces the historical roots of our present global order and compellingly argues that the shift to various forms of strongman diplomacy currently under way, in the spirit of the 1945 Yalta conference that established the key political parameters of the United Nations, is likely to be costly for human well-being. Much better to build a more inclusive system, that gives voice to people everywhere and recognizes that we live in a different world in which economic and political power is more diffuse and confronting myriad global challenges which require stronger international cooperation.

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Professor Guy Sinclair explains how the UN has, over time, diverged from its original Charter, adapting in response to global shifts—sometimes enhancing its relevance, but at other times straining its legitimacy. Sinclair outlines four key factors driving institutional change: external shocks, internal dynamics, legal mechanisms, and shared narratives. As new technologies like AI and autonomous weapons reshape global threats, he anticipates further evolution in how international organizations operate. We also discuss the strain on the UN’s development agenda—especially the Sustainable Development Goals—as geopolitical shocks and donor fatigue undercut progress. Sinclair addresses concerns about the UN’s diminished authority in peace and security, citing the growing irrelevance of Security Council authorization. He warns that the increasing role of private and state donors may skew UN priorities, challenging its legitimacy. Finally, we explore whether collective security remains a viable goal and whether reform should be gradual or transformative. Through it all, Sinclair urges a critical but hopeful approach, recognizing the UN’s enduring potential amid deep systemic challenges.

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Cecelia Lynch, a Professor of Political Science at the University of California, is a leading thinker on the importance of inclusion as a catalyst for promoting sustainable, peaceful, social transformations. The idea is that inclusion should not just be limited to nation states but should from the outset involve those directly impacted by conflicts, so that they play a leading role in the resolution process. Radical inclusion broadens participation to include marginalized groups like local communities, women, and non-state actors. It also involves local communities and their unique forms of knowledge in the stewardship of environmental protection, peace building initiatives and conflict resolution, and the design of strategies aimed at improving the livelihoods of marginalized groups around the world. A peace and prosperous world are an impossible achievement if it does not include the voices of the voiceless.

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