GPPi op-ed charts outlook for Ban Ki-moon’s second term

On 30 December 2011, Deutsche Welle published an op-ed by GPPi co-founder and associate director Thorsten Benner on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s second five-year term, which began on 1 January 2012. In his piece, Benner argues that to leave a lasting mark, Ban needs to go beyond his self-styled role as a ​“global bridge-builder.”

Benner observes that there is little excitement among UN member states, UN staff or the world public about Ban leading the UN for another half decade. While Ban should continue to seek common ground among the UN’s 193 member states, for the sake of ​“we, the peoples,” he should not shy away from calling them out when they so evidently act in bad faith. Ban’s strong stance on the Arab uprisings might serve as a model for the years to come.

Among other issues, Benner writes, Ban should go against the grain of received wisdom on the key issues of climate change, peace operations and global development governance. In addition, Ban should bring his own house in order and reconnect with the UN’s staff. Benner also suggests that UN member states limit the term of future UN secretary-generals to a single five-year term. That way, UN leaders can be bold from day one because they will not need to campaign for re-election. Further, member states might be more open to choosing competent, charismatic and independent personalities for the job. After all, they would only have to live with them for five years.