10 August 2026
Campaigning From Within
On Thursday, 23 July 2026, the six candidates “running” for the position of United Nations Secretary-General came forward in the General Assembly Hall in New York to publicly present their visions for the organization’s future, as part of the “UN Town Hall.” Several of the candidates are current and former senior officials of the UN and related agencies. This post will explore the nature and procedure of the UNSG appointment, the challenges that arise when senior officials “run” for the highest office, and propose recommendations to mitigate these concerns. Continue reading >>
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28 June 2025
U.S. Attacks on Iran
Israel and the United States attacked Iran in mid-June 2025 with the aim of ending its nuclear program. Iran counter-attacked. While some world leaders justified what Israel and the U.S. were doing, they did so in line with political deterrence theory, not the plain terms of the United Nations Charter. The lawful use of force in self-defense depends on an armed attack occurring. Concerns over nuclear weapons are to be resolved through treaties and negotiations. Honoring deterrence theory over the law is undermining the surest path to peace. Continue reading >>12 May 2024
Bertha Maria Júlia Lutz
Bertha Maria Júlia Lutz was an acknowledged scientist, a women’s rights activist, a politician, and a diplomat. Mostly known for being one of four women to sign the United Nations Charter in 1945 and assuring the inclusion of the rights of women in its preamble, she also played a vital role in attaining women’s suffrage in Brazil. Continue reading >>
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