The United Nations: Redefinition or renewal?

• Author: Berg, Dirk Jan van den
• Position: Thinking Aloud

Are economic factors and considerations becoming more important in international relations? In traditional diplomacy, international relations have generally been considered the exclusive domain of States and their representatives. But other actors, of course, were playing their part as well. Transboundary activities of other actors have increased during recent decades to such an extent that they now constitute a major part of the fabric of international relations. Indeed, such relations are being recognized as "multifaceted" in nature, with political and many non-political factors and a wide variety of actors. Are we, therefore, to substitute an "economic" model for the traditionalist "political" model of international relations? Has history become less political and more economic? Given the surge of globalization, one is tempted to say yes.

Before answering this question, however, let us for a moment reflect on the intricate relationship of the economic and political dimensions. Is not politics the art of promoting the realization of objectives considered in the interest of the State and its citizens? Such objectives, obviously, will quite often be economic in nature but, once pursued by the State, may also be called political objectives, i.e. to be achieved by means of political processes. And equally the success of economic actors depends on the existence of an enabling environment, in terms of functioning markets and adequate Governments. Therefore, political and economic actors depend on each other, and their activities on many occasions are reverse sides of the same coin.

In the United Nations, the trend towards a multifaceted approach in international affairs has become more prominent. The Millennium Declaration testifies to this. We have entered the era of "holism", we are seeking to develop "integrated approaches", and we are advocates of "policy coherence". The segregation of political, economic and social experts is diminishing, and the walls separating the respective bodies and fora are crumbling. The current UN reform process has already resulted in increased cooperation among individual parts of the system. Synergies are expected to heighten the impact of UN activities. Also, partnerships are developed with other stakeholders in international relations. Let us take a closer look at this phenomenon as it manifests itself at the United Nations.

Universal membership and a comprehensive mandate--as in the case of the United...