In a volatile world of renewed Great Power Competition, what is the role and future of the United Nations? Can the organisation and its associated institutions be effective against the backdrop of U.S.-China competition, war in Ukraine, growing economic nationalism and tensions in the Middle-East and East Asia?  Is the future of the UN dependent on a single international order? Can it operate if consensus on the nature of that order frays? Is there scope for UN reform, and if so, what could that look like?

To hear more, come and join James Kariuki, Britain's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and Natalie Samarasinghe, Advisor to the Global Challenges Foundation, to discuss the contemporary challenges and future direction of the UN. 

More about out speakers and chair

James Kariuki (@JamesKariuki_UN) is the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, New York. His previous Foreign Office positions include Director Multilateral Policy, Deputy Director Europe, and Head of Policy Planning. He has also served at the British Embassies in Washington and Caracas, and with the UN in Baghdad.

Natalie Samarasinghe is Advisor to the Global Challenges Foundation. She previously served as CEO of the United Nations Association -- UK (the first woman appointed to the role), Speechwriter to the President of the UN General Assembly, Chief of Strategy in the UN Secretariat, and Global Director of Advocacy for the Open Society Foundations. She is a co-founder of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign to appoint the first woman UN Secretary-General.

Alexander Evans (@aiaevans) is Professor in Practice of Public Policy. He is a former adviser to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street and Director Cyber at the Foreign Office where he was the U.K.’s chief international cyber policy negotiator. He has also served as a senior adviser in the U.S. Department of State during the first Obama Administration, and led the U.N. Security Council expert group on Daesh, Al Qaida and the Taliban.

More about this event

The LSE School of Public Policy (@LSEPublicPolicy) equips you with the skills and ideas to transform people and societies. It is an international community where ideas and practice meet. Their approach creates professionals with the ability to analyse, understand and resolve the challenges of contemporary governance.

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Podcast & Video

A podcast of this event is available to download from The UN at 80: does the world still need the UN?

A video of this event is available to watch at The UN at 80: does the world still need the UN?

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