The United Nations Keeps Failing - Essay Sample

The UN Keeps Failing, Right When We Really Need It is an article published on April 12, 2015, by The Atlantic website. It was edited by David Rohde an award winner, author, and editor of the National Security Investigation for the Thomson Reuters, and a former reporter for the The New York Times South Asia Bureau. This article focuses on the weakness that the United Nation (UN is a global NGO) faces from its 193 membership states. The editor uses examples and interviews from Anonymous UN employees to show how its management is responsible for the organization's setbacks and a hindrance to its achievements.

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In the author's point of view, the UN management keeps on failing beginning from the top. The author shows this using various examples. For instance, the medication box supplies that were to be conveyed to North Darfur in the Rural Hospital in Kutum were being dropped in South Africa by peacemakers (Rohde, 2017). Thus, the UN is an important aid organization for both political and economical crisis in a state, but it is evidencing dysfunctionalities. The author uses the description of the former United Nation employee (James Wasserstrom) on the pervasive extent of impunity within the NGO. James, a veteran diplomat in the United States (US), was sacked and apprehended as police searched his apartment and placed his picture on the criminal/wanted list (Rohde, 2017). It is an example of a situation concerning how whistle-blowers are penalized for revealing illegal activities because he had reported possible corruption among the UN officials in Kosovo.

I agree with the authors point of view. The UNs past actions have proven that issues will get worse before they get any better. Strong evidence supporting the author's claim can be noted from the NGOs activities. According to Wasserstrom interview, the UN is supposed to be upholding the standard of human rights; the govern of law and battle corruption, among others. As such, the NGO was required to compensate the groups of Haitians who died while others got sick from Cholera episode, which according to experts, the Nepalese UN peacemakers set off in the country. Contrary to this evidence, the UN is still an important organization, and its role remains vital. States such as the US uses this NGO to influence others. For instance, President Obama requested for a meeting in the White House with the secretary general of UN to put pressure on North Koreas nuclear program. According to the author, the UNs role globally is likely to increase. However, better leadership will be required in this NGO in years to come (Rohde, 2017). The author suggests leadership as the impending issue.

In conclusion, the arguments in this article make it reliable because it uses interviews, observations, and statistics to show how the UN is dysfunctional. The author, David Rohde, is reliable because of his experience and investigative skills, which can be seen in all his works. Additionally, he has worked for various leading news companies and has been awarded for his achievements. However, the article still has some problems in thoroughness. For instance, the author did not recommend any solutions or approach to the issue of leadership raised. Also, some of the sources that the author interviewed were anonymous, and therefore, one can doubt their credibility. It seems that this text is reliable but still inadequate.

Reference List

Rohde, D. (2017). The UN Keeps Failing, Right When We Really Need It. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: <http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/the-un-keeps-failing-right-when-we-really-need-it/274962> [Accessed 11 Mar. 2017].