What Kind of Secretary-General Does the World Need?

Last Thursday, the United Nations Security Council held its first informal "straw poll" behind closed doors to assess the prospects of the seven candidates competing to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.

On January 1, 2027, a new occupant will move into the office on the 38th floor of the world's most recognizable glass building, succeeding António Guterres, who will have completed two full five-year terms.

But what kind of Secretary-General does a world in turmoil and uncertainty require—a world suspended between an old international order that is steadily eroding and a new one struggling to emerge?

According to Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, the role of the next Secretary-General will be among the most challenging positions in the world.

The incoming Secretary-General will not only be expected to redefine the future of the United Nations but also to defend its very relevance at a time when the organization faces mounting criticism. Some argue that the UN has outlived its usefulness and should be consigned to history, claiming it has become incapable of keeping pace with global developments. Others insist that the organization remains indispensable but requires sweeping institutional reforms to restore its effectiveness and credibility.

In reality, selecting a new Secretary-General is far more than an administrative appointment. It is a declaration of intent—one that will send a powerful message about what the United Nations represents and how it intends to confront the challenges of today's deeply interconnected world.

Whoever assumes the office will face the formidable task of restoring the organization's geopolitical standing in matters of war and peace, at a time when global instability is intensifying and the UN's influence continues to diminish.

It is no secret that the United Nations has experienced a significant decline in effectiveness, largely because the Security Council has become increasingly paralyzed by disagreements among the major powers and by the erosion of respect for international law.

This has been painfully evident in the actions of powerful states that have bypassed the principles of the UN Charter, as witnessed in conflicts ranging from Ukraine and Venezuela to the Middle East.

Perhaps the foremost responsibility awaiting Guterres's successor will be restoring the credibility of the United Nations as an institution dedicated to peacebuilding. Achieving this will depend in large measure on the new leader's ability to rebuild trust and strengthen channels of communication between the UN Secretariat and the world's major powers.

What Qualities Should the Next Secretary-General Possess?

The United Nations Charter imposes no formal qualifications or specific criteria for the office. Yet the current geopolitical environment demands an exceptional individual—someone with visionary leadership, outstanding administrative competence, and diplomatic skills suited to the complexities of the twenty-first century.

The next Secretary-General must also be capable of responding rapidly to the defining challenges of our era. He or she will be the Secretary-General of the age of artificial intelligence, post-human technologies, cyber warfare, and competition over critical minerals. The office will also require close attention to developments beyond Earth itself, from the militarization of outer space to the emergence of a space-based economy. In this sense, the challenges awaiting the next UN leader extend far beyond those confronted by previous Secretaries-General.

The new head of the United Nations will also be expected to address the fears increasingly dominating humanity: climate change, whose effects are already visible in unprecedented wildfires; the threat of future pandemics and concerns about the world's capacity to respond; the risks posed by recurring economic crises; the enduring divide between the wealthy Global North and the poorer Global South; migration pressures; violent extremism; and the simultaneous rise of nationalism and populism—developments that seem to suggest the world is moving ever closer to the scenario envisioned by Samuel Huntington.

Defending the United Nations Charter and upholding international law—without double standards—must remain central to the mission of the next Secretary-General.

At a time when the United Nations has seen its effectiveness weakened by the rivalries of the major powers, there is an urgent need for a modern, forward-looking vision—one that does not rely on military force but instead revives the ideal of a global human community envisioned by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Above all, it requires renewed international solidarity to preserve and strengthen this indispensable institution.

Should the candidates and the member states fail to seize this opportunity, there may soon be very little of the United Nations left to defend.

Last Thursday, the United Nations Security Council held its first informal "straw poll" behind closed doors to assess the prospects of the seven candidates competing to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.

On January 1, 2027, a new occupant will move into the office on the 38th floor of the world's most recognizable glass building, succeeding António Guterres, who will have completed two full five-year terms.

But what kind of Secretary-General does a world in turmoil and uncertainty require—a world suspended between an old international order that is steadily eroding and a new one struggling to emerge?

According to Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, the role of the next Secretary-General will be among the most challenging positions in the world.

The incoming Secretary-General will not only be expected to redefine the future of the United Nations but also to defend its very relevance at a time when the organization faces mounting criticism. Some argue that the UN has outlived its usefulness and should be consigned to history, claiming it has become incapable of keeping pace with global developments. Others insist that the organization remains indispensable but requires sweeping institutional reforms to restore its effectiveness and credibility.

In reality, selecting a new Secretary-General is far more than an administrative appointment. It is a declaration of intent—one that will send a powerful message about what the United Nations represents and how it intends to confront the challenges of today's deeply interconnected world.

Whoever assumes the office will face the formidable task of restoring the organization's geopolitical standing in matters of war and peace, at a time when global instability is intensifying and the UN's influence continues to diminish.

It is no secret that the United Nations has experienced a significant decline in effectiveness, largely because the Security Council has become increasingly paralyzed by disagreements among the major powers and by the erosion of respect for international law.

This has been painfully evident in the actions of powerful states that have bypassed the principles of the UN Charter, as witnessed in conflicts ranging from Ukraine and Venezuela to the Middle East.

Perhaps the foremost responsibility awaiting Guterres's successor will be restoring the credibility of the United Nations as an institution dedicated to peacebuilding. Achieving this will depend in large measure on the new leader's ability to rebuild trust and strengthen channels of communication between the UN Secretariat and the world's major powers.

What Qualities Should the Next Secretary-General Possess?

The United Nations Charter imposes no formal qualifications or specific criteria for the office. Yet the current geopolitical environment demands an exceptional individual—someone with visionary leadership, outstanding administrative competence, and diplomatic skills suited to the complexities of the twenty-first century.

The next Secretary-General must also be capable of responding rapidly to the defining challenges of our era. He or she will be the Secretary-General of the age of artificial intelligence, post-human technologies, cyber warfare, and competition over critical minerals. The office will also require close attention to developments beyond Earth itself, from the militarization of outer space to the emergence of a space-based economy. In this sense, the challenges awaiting the next UN leader extend far beyond those confronted by previous Secretaries-General.

The new head of the United Nations will also be expected to address the fears increasingly dominating humanity: climate change, whose effects are already visible in unprecedented wildfires; the threat of future pandemics and concerns about the world's capacity to respond; the risks posed by recurring economic crises; the enduring divide between the wealthy Global North and the poorer Global South; migration pressures; violent extremism; and the simultaneous rise of nationalism and populism—developments that seem to suggest the world is moving ever closer to the scenario envisioned by Samuel Huntington.

Defending the United Nations Charter and upholding international law—without double standards—must remain central to the mission of the next Secretary-General.

At a time when the United Nations has seen its effectiveness weakened by the rivalries of the major powers, there is an urgent need for a modern, forward-looking vision—one that does not rely on military force but instead revives the ideal of a global human community envisioned by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Above all, it requires renewed international solidarity to preserve and strengthen this indispensable institution.

Should the candidates and the member states fail to seize this opportunity, there may soon be very little of the United Nations left to defend.