Disillusion at the UN: From Srebrenica to Aleppo (Richard Gowan, ECFR)

“Enthusiasm. Disillusion. Realism. This has been the history of the United Nations over the last five years.” That was the late Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s summary of his tenure as secretary-general when he had to quit the UN under American pressure in 1996. It was a diplomatic understatement. During his time in office, he was faced with the Somali debacle, Rwandan genocide and Srebrenica massacre. It is sadly ironic that Boutros-Ghali’s death this month has coincided with another period of profound disillusion at the UN.

http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_disillusion_at_the_un_from_srebrenica_to_aleppo6006