Flags of the United Nations member states in front of the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Flags of the United Nations member states in front of the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The United Nations celebrates its 70th birthday this year. Founded after World War II, its goal was to prevent such a large-scale conflict from ever happening again. Over the years, the U.N. has grown from 50 members to nearly 200. Meanwhile, the mission has evolved and expanded, to address issues like hunger, disease, poverty and human rights abuses. Some argue that in our increasingly connected society, the U.N. is more crucial than ever. Yet, critics say recent crises like Ebola and the war in Syria highlight the institution’s challenges and raise questions about its current and future relevance. We explore the role of the United Nations seven decades after its creation.

Guests

  • Brett Schaefer Senior research fellow in regulatory affairs at The Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation; editor of "ConUNdrum: The Limits of the United Nations and the Search for Alternatives"
  • Phyllis Bennis Director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies; author of "Understanding ISIS & the New Global War on Terror: A Primer." (April 2015)
  • David Bosco Assistant professor of international politics at American University, contributing editor at Foreign Policy and the author of "Five to Rule Them All" and "Rough Justice."
  • Somini Sengupta Reporter covering the United Nations for the New York Times

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