How to Prevent the Next World War: A Conversation With Thant Myint-U

The United Nations faces a crisis of relevance as global conflict surges, yet the institution’s decline stems less from its structure than from a loss of the foundational commitment to preventing total war. Historically, the UN served as a vital mediator, exemplified by U Thant’s role during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where the Secretary General acted as an indispensable, neutral point of reference. Today, however, the organization has drifted away from its core mission of interstate conflict resolution toward a focus on development and civil war management. Revitalizing the UN requires a cultural restoration of the post-1945 conviction that avoiding global war is the primary objective of international politics. Rather than seeking institutional reform, the global community must prioritize the appointment of a Secretary General with the political courage to engage in high-level diplomacy and mobilize support for peace.