What I’ve Learned

Global security does not rest in one nation seeking supremacy over all others, notes Kofi A. Annan, who ends his term as UN secretary general. Rhetoric alone cannot resolve global problems as immense and far-reaching as nuclear proliferation to global warming, and cohesive action from multiple nations is necessary. Likewise, poverty anywhere threatens the stability of nations around the globe. “It is not realistic to think that some people can go on deriving great benefits from globalization while billions of others are left in, or thrown into, abject poverty,” writes Annan. Respect for human rights and rule of law ensure stability. Multilateral institutions, organized in fair and democratic ways, can hold nations accountable for contributing to the global good. Every nation, including the US, needs a functioning global system, Annan argues. The world is a small place, where a few can no longer easily grab the benefits of globalization, where national interests trump global issues, where hypocrisy is instantly visible, or where global cooperation is sought on some issues and not on others. – YaleGlobal