MAIR Lunch Roundtable: Empowering a Democratic United Nations

In an era marked by renewed great power competition and global institutional strain, scholars and policymakers are revisiting fundamental questions about the structure and effectiveness of the United Nations.

This event will feature Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum and former World Bank director, and Andrew Strauss, Dean Emeritus of the University of Dayton School of Law. Both speakers were principal contributors to the drafting of the proposed Second United Nations Charter and the Revised Statute of the International Court of Justice.

The discussion will examine proposals aimed at modernizing and democratizing the United Nations, including reforms to the Security Council, the creation of a Parliamentary Assembly, and mechanisms designed to enhance accountability and global representation. The conversation will also explore broader questions about how large-scale transformation of international institutions occurs and the role that middle and smaller powers may play in shaping future reforms.

This event is open to students, faculty, and members of the university community interested in international relations, global governance, international law, diplomacy, and institutional reform.