The quote discusses the challenges faced by large international organizations like the United Nations when adapting to modern threats. It suggests that these institutions were designed to address specific types of threats, primarily involving one country attacking another after World War II. As such, they are now struggling to effectively respond to a broader range of contemporary issues.
When Samantha Power speaks about changing the DNA of an organization like the UN, she is highlighting the inherent difficulty in altering its foundational structure and purpose to meet current challenges. The organization was initially conceived in a post-World War II context where threats were more straightforward, involving direct state-on-state aggression. Today's threats are far more complex, encompassing terrorism, cyber attacks, climate change, and pandemics, which do not neatly fit the original model of interstate conflict. This complexity makes it challenging to adapt the UN’s existing framework to effectively handle these diverse and evolving dangers.
Samantha Power is a distinguished American diplomat, journalist, and academic who has served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017. Her insights are rooted in her extensive experience working with international organizations and understanding their limitations and potential for reform.
