Shashi Tharoor: UN Remains Essential Global Institution Despite Challenges in Gaza and Ukraine

Cape Town:

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasized the continued significance of the United Nations in global affairs during his address at the 15th Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture in Cape Town on Thursday. Despite acknowledging the organization's "failures" regarding Gaza and Ukraine, Tharoor maintained that the UN remains essential and must transform into a more representative and effective institution as nations face increasingly complex challenges requiring collective response.

Tharoor, who previously served as UN undersecretary-general, warned that abandoning the UN would mean surrendering the shared principles that unite the international community. "As someone who served the UN for three decades from 1978-2007, I witnessed first-hand its evolution from a Cold War battleground to a post-Cold War laboratory of global cooperation," he reflected, sharing his experiences with various humanitarian and peace initiatives.

He recounted observing the organization "falter in Rwanda" while "rising to the occasion in Timor-Leste and Namibia," and acknowledged its persistent efforts to "feed the hungry, shelter the displaced and give voice to the voiceless."

Tharoor emphasized that criticism of the UN's deficiencies does not diminish its critical importance. "Today, when people decry its failures over Gaza and Ukraine, I acknowledge again that the UN is not perfect nor was it ever meant to be, and yet it remains indispensable," he stated.

He highlighted the organization's continued relevance for displaced communities seeking refuge, peacekeepers stationed in conflict zones, and diplomats negotiating ceasefires, describing the UN as "an indispensable symbol of not perfection but of possibility." Tharoor quoted Dag Hammarskjold's observation that the UN "was not meant to take mankind to heaven but to save humanity from hell."

As the UN recently marked its 80th anniversary, Tharoor emphasized the necessity for institutional renewal to maintain relevance. He argued that the UN's legitimacy stems from the understanding that "in an interconnected world, no nation is truly sovereign unless all are," adding that now is the moment for "that moral reimagination of the UN."

Addressing interfaith harmony, Tharoor referenced Swami Vivekananda's teachings: "I am a Hindu and I learn from the great preacher Swami Vivekananda... that Hinduism stands for both tolerance and universal acceptance." He noted Vivekananda's critique of tolerance as "a patronising idea," highlighting his call to "replace tolerance with acceptance" embodied in the principle of "I will respect your truth, please respect my truth."

Tharoor affirmed that the concept of "Sarva dharma sambhav" remains fundamental to peaceful coexistence, though religious principles are frequently narrowed into identity politics despite originally intending to unite people.

Reflecting on Archbishop Desmond Tutu's legacy, Tharoor stated that the late leader urged societies to reject the false choice between peace and justice. He advocated listening to survivors' stories, challenging structures creating inequality, and working toward inclusion.

Highlighting the multiple crises confronting the world—including conflict, displacement, climate emergencies, and rising intolerance—Tharoor insisted that surrender to despair is not an option.

Concluding his address, Tharoor called upon people to become "the builders of bridges, the architects of inclusiveness, the healers of wounds, the promoters of hope," and to maintain "the flickering flame of hope and faith even in the midst of intensifying darkness," emphasizing that the world needs "more Tutus and more Tutu-like souls."

He noted that the lecture occurred during a period of deepening global division and highlighted how Desmond Tutu's life, both as a religious leader and anti-apartheid icon, represents a powerful example of moral courage.

Tharoor added that Tutu taught the world how to "re-imagine coexistence" and view "every stranger a reflection of ourselves." He encouraged the audience to carry forward Tutu's values and vision.