Inventing the Political Role of Secretary-General

During his decade as UN Secretary-General, U Thant played a pivotal role in resolving some of the most dangerous international crises of his time. From defusing the Cuban Missile stand-off, and preventing nuclear war, to mediating conflicts in India and Pakistan, and the Middle East, he consistently worked to maintain global peace. He also challenged U.S. policies during the Vietnam War, demonstrating a commitment to diplomacy over confrontation. Despite these critical interventions, history rarely remembers him as the peacemaker he truly was, and his legacy remains largely overlooked.

• GUEST: Thant Myint U, historian, academic and author of The Peacemaker:  U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World
• PRODUCER: Ali Benton