2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The Influence of the US and China on the United Nations Secretariat: A Proposal for Institutional Reform
| Project/Area Number |
20K01528
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| Research Institution | International Christian University |
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Principal Investigator |
SALTON Herman 国際基督教大学, 教養学部, 准教授 (60837433)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | United States / China / Japan / United Nations / Secretariat / Power Politics / Diplomacy / International Relations |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This project allowed me to ascertain how the US and China influence the Secretariat through the appointments and decision-making processes. By relying on a combination of archival research and interviews with key decision makers, I was able to understand the rationale for the US and Chinese governments' stance on the UN Secretariat, the positions in which they are most interested in filling, and their rationale. These are some of my conclusions: 1.Since China is questioning some of the norms upon which the US ‘shaped’ the UN after WWII, a clash of superpowers and superpower’s values is underway in New York, so understanding how UN officials are influenced, by whom, and why, was key. Given the global reach of these two countries, this is arguably the most important question in international relations today. 2.A functional UN needs a functioning Secretariat, which must rely on impartial officials working for all 193 states and for the world’s people, rather than for the superpower of the day. While the reform of the Security Council is important, so is improving the UN civil service. The war in Ukraine is making the UN eve more adversarial, however, and reform is likely to meet the opposition of either the US or China. 3.As the second largest contributor to the UN budget, Japan must be able to rely on the independence of UN officials, especially at a time of rising tensions in Asia. My project suggests several strategies for Japan to address this issue by increasing the country’s representation in the Secretariat.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Despite the problems raised by the Covid-19 pandemic, my research has proceeded rather smoothly. Although I was not able to conduct face-to-face interviews, I focussed on Zoom interviews and I increased my reliance on documentary sources. As a result, I am on track to complete it by the deadline.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the final year of the Kaken project, I am planning to explore the Japanese position on Secretariat research and investigate possible strategies for how Japan should approach the issue of UN staffing. This will involve interviews with key decision makers. I also plan to complete two journal articles on the subject, and wrapping up a draft manuscript for a book.
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| Causes of Carryover |
As more research need to be carried out and more data is to be gathered on the final parts of the project (especially on the Japanese and US side of my project), I plan to use the remaining funds to acquire new books on the topic, to pay for additional editorial assistance (as I have another book coming up) if it is needed, and also possibly to buy a laptop (depending on whether my personal one still works fine).
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