Lowy Institute Development Futures: United Nations’ reform and relevance
Nov 18, 2025
Ryan Neelam, a former Australian diplomat and director at the Lowy Institute, and Dr. Ronny Patz, an expert in UN financing, dive deep into the pressing issues facing the United Nations. They tackle the UN's financial crisis, forecasting potential bankruptcy by 2026 and increased staff cuts. The discussion also highlights China's growing influence in the UN and debates about global leadership dynamics between the US and China. Ultimately, they weigh in on the effectiveness of the UN80 reforms amid rising tensions and the pressing need for representation from the Global South.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
UN Struggles Across Core Mandates
- The UN is no longer fit for purpose in its current form and struggles across peace, human rights, and development mandates.
- Ryan Neelam argues member states' fractured politics, not just bureaucracy, drive the organisation's failures.
UN Faces Deepest Financial Crisis
- Dr Ronny Patz calls the current UN financial situation the deepest crisis in decades with bankruptcy risk in 2026.
- He highlights steep cuts across agencies and thousands of staff already laid off or not rehired.
Cuts Threaten Life-Saving Operations
- Funding shortfalls are causing material cuts to life-saving operations like peacekeeping and humanitarian delivery.
- Patz warns 25% personnel cuts in peacekeeping will reduce services and have serious human costs.
