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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Sundeep Waslekar eloquently explains why current nationalisms and our obsession with the primacy of the nation state are not able to deliver practical solutions to the problems that threaten our future as a human family. In addition to reforms to our current UN-based global governance architecture we also need a new philosophical and ethical framework that is consistent with the idea that we are one human family, inhabiting one planet and that our survival as a human species is inextricably linked to the recognition of our common humanity. Without this anchoring based on enlightened human values, we risk being overwhelmed by multiple crises and the resulting human suffering. We must imagine a better future and take the concrete steps to get there.

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Professor Sonia Sanchez Diaz is a highly regarded analyst of the crisis in the Middle East, widely respected for her objectivity, impartiality and incisive analysis, which builds on a deep understanding of the region´s troubled history, its institutions, and peoples. In this podcast she examines developments over the past couple of years and what it means for regional stability and security. Her perceptive analysis casts light on many of the underlying factors underpinning the conflict and she makes a strong case that empowering its women will be an important part of the solution.

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Gerardo Bugallo was Spain's Ambassador in Ukraine during the critical years 2013-17, a crucial period that spanned from the Euromaidan to the first years after the annexation of Crimea. In this podcast interview he shares fascinating insights on the end of the Cold War, the origins of the current conflict, the possibilities of a fair settlement that would permit Ukraine to develop as a sovereign nation enjoying peace and security and stronger ties with the EU, consistent with the principles of non-violence embedded in the UN Charter. He also discusses China's emergence as a global geopolitical actor and the role it could play in the current environment of international big-power tensions. A thoughtful diplomat ably navigating our labyrinthine geopolitical realities.

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Michael Mandelbaum has written a fascinating book examining the role of major political leaders in shaping our recent history, for better or for worse. He is a highly regarded author with an insightful understanding of the factors that have shaped conflict and progress over the past century. Some of the titans featured in this podcast based on his book operated within democratic settings and left democracy stronger than they had found it, while others, tyrants with diseased minds, tended towards coercion rather than persuasion when exercising power and contributed to making the 20th century a blood-soaked century, without parallel in terms of human suffering. In an age of rising authoritarianism, this podcast delivers important warnings for our collective future.

You can find Michael Mandelbaum's new book on Amazon or your local bookstore.

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Wendy Broadgate is a distinguished scientist who has worked in Earth system science and the science-policy interface for two decades. She is therefore singularly well-qualified to address the question of the dangers we face because of inadequate action to set our climate system within safe and just boundaries. Public support for more robust action to put the Earth on a more sustainable path is broad-based; what is lacking is political will and a better understanding of our collective intergenerational responsibilities. The costs of inaction will be orders of magnitude larger than acting now, including by rethinking the economic growth imperative of our current economic paradigm. Action is needed now; there is no shortage of knowledge. It needs to be complemented by enlightened political leadership.

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