Thomas G. Weiss

Thomas G. Weiss is Presidential Professor of Political Science at The CUNY Graduate Center and Distinguished Fellow, Global Governance, at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. His 2018 book is, "Would the World Be Better Without the UN?"

UN75

Will the UN Make It to 100?

June 2, 2020

by Thomas G. Weiss

Seventy-five years ago this month, delegates in San Francisco signed the United Nations Charter. Anniversary events were supposed to culminate in the commemoration of the entry into force of the world organization’s constitution on Oct. 24. That, of course, was before Covid-19 turned the world upside-down. Like school and university commencements, the UN’s celebration …

UN75, US-UN Relations

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COVID-19

A Plea for Multilateralism From the Windy City

April 15, 2020

by Thomas G. Weiss

CHICAGO — American cities have an intimate association with the United Nations. That relationship started in San Francisco 75 years ago later this month and continues today and, one hopes, tomorrow in the New York and Washington headquarters for the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions. Chicago is my sabbatical base and an intriguing …

Covid-19, Secretary-General, US-UN Relations

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WORLDVIEWS

The UN Is Under Siege, So Where Is the Secretary-General?

September 18, 2018

by Thomas G. Weiss

Was it only two years ago that so many people were elated by the appointment of António Guterres as secretary-general of the United Nations? After public debates organized by the president of the General Assembly and informal ones by the 1-for-7-Billion “Find the Best UN Leader” coalition, he emerged as the top candidate in …

Secretary-General, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations, WORLDVIEWS

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WORLDVIEWS

Revisiting the 1942-1945 United Nations

June 9, 2015

by Thomas G. Weiss

The 70th anniversary of the signing and entry into force of the United Nations Charter should draw attention to the 1942-45 United Nations Alliance that gave rise to the world body and the underpinnings of contemporary global governance. While anniversaries are in some ways an artificial “hook,” they are nonetheless a way not to forget. …

WORLDVIEWS

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UN-Scripted: PassBlue's exclusive podcast series

Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies at Fordham University

WORLDVIEWS

The Business and Politics of Good Samaritans

March 30, 2013

by Thomas G. Weiss

“Humanitarian” and “business” are juxtaposed in the title of my new book, “Humanitarian Business,” for two reasons: provocation and accuracy. It jars those who idealize the humanitarian enterprise because the adjective has uncontested positive connotations while the noun is associated with wheeling and dealing and thus at odds with the self-image of true believers. …

Humanitarian Aid, WORLDVIEWS

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WORLDVIEWS

An American in Europe: The UN, Who Cares?

February 12, 2013

by Thomas G. Weiss

BRUSSELS — George Gershwin certainly would not have been inspired to write a symphonic tone poem about an American academic on sabbatical attempting to interpret European reactions to the United Nations. Ten years ago, Robert Kagan wrote that “Americans are from Mars and Europeans from Venus.” Perhaps, but not regarding the UN. After years …

Development, US-UN Relations, WORLDVIEWS

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Thomas G. Weiss

Will the UN Make It to 100?

A Plea for Multilateralism From the Windy City

The UN Is Under Siege, So Where Is the Secretary-General?

Revisiting the 1942-1945 United Nations

The Business and Politics of Good Samaritans

An American in Europe: The UN, Who Cares?

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