Not long ago, I attended a college information session, a gathering of students, faculty, and prospective applicants discussing programs and aspirations. During the Q&A portion, a student affiliated with a pro-Palestinian organization stood up. Rather than asking a question, she made a fervent statement: “Under the United Nations, states don’t have rights; people do.” Her voice carried deep emotion, and I could sense the humanity in her words. She was advocating for a powerful truth, that people, not just governments, should be at the core of justice and international law.
However, her statement, while heartfelt, reflected a misunderstanding. The United Nations is not an institution of the people; it is, by design, an organization of member states. It is made up entirely of sovereign governments, entities that represent their nations but don’t always reflect the will of their citizens. These governments are the UN’s members, decision-makers, and gatekeepers. Individuals have no direct influence within the UN. They cannot vote, draft resolutions, or shape policy. In this system, the voices that carry weight belong to states, not citizens.
This distinction is crucial. Take the creation of Israel, the subject of the student’s statement. The nation’s existence stems from a 1947 UN General Assembly resolution recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. That decision was made not by the people affected but by the votes of nation-states. This moment exemplifies the UN’s design, states, not populations, determine the outcomes that shape lives and regions. Both Israel and a prospective Palestinian state were recognized in principle, but the decisions came from governments, not grassroots movements.
The structure of the United Nations today remains firmly rooted in its member-state foundation. Its most powerful body, the Security Council, grants veto power to five countries, the victors of World War II, who can block any substantive resolution, even if global consensus exists. The General Assembly, though more inclusive, gives each country one vote, regardless of population size, democratic legitimacy, or human rights record. North Korea’s vote holds the same weight as Canada’s. Syria’s counts as much as Sweden’s. Here, power is derived from sovereignty, not representation or justice.
This framework creates a global system where authoritarian regimes and democracies are treated as equals, national interests override human rights, and some of the worst violators of international norms sit on bodies meant to uphold them. The UN may champion the rhetoric of people-centered values, but its machinery is calibrated to serve states, and their priorities often diverge from the needs of their citizens.
And that’s the problem. In a world facing crises like pandemics, climate change, mass displacement, and disinformation, we need solutions that are inclusive and truly representative. Yet the institutions tasked with solving these issues are structurally incapable of giving people a voice. Individuals are spoken for, but they don’t get to speak. This gap is becoming increasingly untenable.
Change is overdue.
Some have envisioned a global parliament. an elected body where individuals, not just states, can shape international policy. Others propose reforming the UN to create a “people’s assembly,” a platform for holding governments accountable and contributing ideas. Even small steps, like establishing citizen panels to advise on critical issues, could begin to shift the balance. Civil society, grassroots organizers, and local leaders deserve more than observer status. They deserve a seat at the table.
Of course, defenders of the current system argue that only states can ensure stability, warning that undermining sovereignty could lead to chaos. But sovereignty has too often been a shield for oppressive regimes, used to resist accountability rather than serve the people. In today’s interconnected world, clinging to the idea that national borders dictate whose voice matters feels outdated and dangerous.
The global system we have today was built in the aftermath of war by a generation that valued order above all else. But the challenges we face now, ecological collapse, rising inequality, and the resurgence of authoritarianism, demand cooperation not just between governments but among people. The UN’s founding Charter begins with the words “We the peoples of the United Nations,” a powerful ideal that, thus far, has never been realized. The people have never held true power. That power has always rested with the states.
The student who spoke that day believed the world should be more just, inclusive, and humane. She was right. But her assumption that the UN already embodies these principles was misplaced. Our task is to make her vision a reality. To do that, we must reform, or even reinvent, the international system so that it answers not only to governments but also to the people.
Ultimately, the legitimacy of any global order cannot rest on the calculations of statecraft alone. It must be rooted in the democratic will of humanity itself. The people are watching. They are waiting. It’s time for the world to serve them.
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