Loading ...Rethinking the UN: Western Support, Middle Eastern Skepticism
By: Laila Mamdouh / Arab America contributing writer
The UN’s and it Role in the Middle East: Aspirations
The United Nations (UN) is the world’s leading international organization, founded in 1945 with the mission to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, and foster social and economic development worldwide. With 193 member states, the UN operates through its various agencies and programs to address global challenges, including conflict resolution, humanitarian crises, climate change, and poverty.
The Middle East has long stood at the center of the United Nations’ attention, focusing on its complicated web of conflicts, social challenges, and a rapidly growing youth population. Recognizing the region’s unique needs, the UN has championed several initiatives, most notably the Arab Strategy for Youth, Peace, and Security (2023–2028), which was crafted in close collaboration with the League of Arab States. This strategy aims to give Arab youth a bigger role and more involvement in improving development, peace, and security, helping them actively build safe and prosperous Arab societies through their participation in all areas of life.
The UN’s and it Role in the Middle East: Realities
Despite these ambitions, the effectiveness of the UN’s engagement in the region is often questioned by the very youth it seeks to empower. Many young Arabs, especially those living in conflict-affected countries, perceive a stark void between the UN’s rhetoric and its ability to deliver tangible results. As emphasized in regional talks, “young people repeatedly voiced a strong desire for their equal and meaningful inclusion in civic and political participation,” yet many remain frustrated by “a lack of action on their key concerns, namely safety, education, unemployment, disempowerment, and lack of positive engagement in decision-making” (The Arab Strategy for Youth, Peace and Security 2023-2028).
In the words of one regional report, “Youth in the Arab region…find themselves teetering on the brink of disempowerment and experiencing an overwhelming sense of disappointment,” facing “systemic marginalization, enduring exclusion, and chronic injustices” (2024 ECOSOC Youth Forum:”Youth shaping sustainable and innovative solutions). While the UN’s strategy aspires to foster“meaningful participation” and “positive change,” many young people in the region continue to feel that the promises of international engagement remain unfulfilled, especially when it comes to addressing the root causes of conflict and corruption.
Western Youth: Optimism and Faith in the UN
In contrast, youth in the United States and much of the Western world tend to view the UN through a more optimistic lens. For many Western students, the UN represents a beacon of hope; an institution dedicated to humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, and the promotion of universal values. Many Western youth develop their positive view of the United Nations largely through the discourse and narratives prevalent in their societies, which highlight the organization’s leadership and humanitarian efforts as significant achievements. Because most humanitarian operations and aid are directed toward regions outside the West, Western youth rarely witness the direct outcomes of these initiatives in their own communities. As a result, they tend to accept the prevailing narrative about the UN’s effectiveness and benevolence, trusting in the accounts and representations provided by media, educational programs, and public figures rather than firsthand experience.
Middle Eastern Youth: Disillusionment and Demands for Accountability
While the United Nations is often celebrated in Western discourse as a beacon of humanitarianism and global cooperation, this narrative is increasingly contested by youth across the Middle East who have experienced the organization’s limitations firsthand. Recent findings from the Arab Barometer surveys reveal a stark divergence in how the UN is perceived across the region, especially among young people living in areas directly affected by conflict and political instability. In countries such as Palestine, Iraq, and Libya, young people express deep skepticism and disappointment toward the UN. The surveys highlight that a significant portion of the population in these nations holds “very unfavorable” views of the organization, largely due to its perceived inability to resolve critical conflicts or deliver on its promises. For many, the UN’s rhetoric about justice and humanitarian aid rings hollow when measured against its limited effectiveness on the ground.
Shaping the Future: Youth Discourse and the Evolution of International Relations
This growing disillusionment has pushed many Middle Eastern students and youth activists to actively challenge the dominant Western narrative of the UN as an unequivocal force for good. Through grassroots movements, social media campaigns, and public discourse, these young voices are exposing the gap between the UN’s stated commitments to justice and the realities on the ground. Social media, in particular, has enabled the youth to mobilize public opinion, articulate their grievances, and demand greater accountability and meaningful action from global actors like the UN.
Ultimately, the divergent perspectives of Western and Middle Eastern youth are reshaping the global conversation about the UN and international relations. The perspectives of Middle Eastern youth reveal a complex and evolving relationship with the United Nations, hoping for genuine change but tempered by a deep-seated demand for results. Their activism and critical engagement are reshaping the discourse around international institutions, pushing for a future in which the UN’s promises are matched by its actions. At the same time, Western youth are beginning to recognize the limitations of the UN and the importance of listening to their peers from other regions. Dialogue and collaboration between youth from different backgrounds are essential for building a more inclusive and effective international system.
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