Who Can Lead a Disarrayed World? Electing the Next UN Secretary-General

As the United Nations approaches the 2026 selection of its next Secretary-General, member states face a defining moment for the future of multilateral cooperation. In this timely and incisive analysis, Anjali Dayal explores how the evolving global political landscape - marked by growing nationalism, financial strain, and geopolitical polarization - shapes the stakes and dynamics of the race for the UN’s top leadership role.

Dayal examines the dual pressures at play: a rightward shift in U.S. politics that has disrupted the Security Council’s internal balance, and parallel efforts to democratize and modernize the selection process, including calls for gender equity and increased transparency. Against this backdrop, the essay considers what kind of leadership is most likely to navigate the delicate two-step appointment process involving both the Security Council and General Assembly, and what it will take to steward the UN through a period of deep institutional uncertainty.

Offering insight into coalition-building, political messaging, and strategic nomination processes, this publication is essential reading for those concerned with the future of global governance and the viability of the multilateral system.