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Does the United Nations Do Anything Useful?

Catherine Bertini and Thomas G. Weiss join Deep Dish to discuss the future of the United Nations and why the United States should lead its renewal.
Flags outside the United Nations Play Podcast
Mat Reding

With the return of national populism to global politics, multilateral organizations such as the United Nations have come under renewed scrutiny. Yet the UN is much more than just colorful speeches from leaders each September in New York and vetoed resolutions in the Security Council. The Council's Catherine Bertini, a former executive director of the UN World Food Programme, and Thomas G. Weiss, the Council's global governance fellow on sabbatical leave from the CUNY Graduate Center, join Deep Dish to discuss the future of the United Nations and why the United States should lead its renewal.

About the Guests
Distinguished Fellow, Global Food and Agriculture
Council expert Catherine Bertini
Catherine Bertini served as executive director of the UN World Food Program, the world’s largest international humanitarian agency, from 1992 to 2002 prior to joining the Council. She was named the World Food Prize laureate in 2003 for her groundbreaking leadership there.
Council expert Catherine Bertini
Distinguished Fellow, Global Governance
Council expert Thomas Weiss
Thomas G. Weiss is Distinguished Resident Fellow, Global Governance, at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Presidential Professor of Political Science at the City University of New York's Graduate Center. He has written extensively about multilateralism, international peace and security, humanitarian action, and sustainable development.
Council expert Thomas Weiss
Brian Hanson
Former Vice President, Studies
Brian Hanson headshot
Brian Hanson served as the vice president of studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He managed the Council's research operations and hosted the Council's weekly podcast, Deep Dish on Global Affairs.
Brian Hanson headshot