The Art of Leadership in the UN
The Art of Leadership in the United Nations is a biennial report series, created in 2020, with the aim to frame the bigger picture of UN leadership.
About the publication
The Art of Leadership in the United Nations publication aims to contribute to reflection and dialogue on UN leadership – both at an institutional and an individual level.
Each edition collects voices on UN leadership with diverse affiliations and experiences, including current and former UN employees at all institutional levels as well as representatives from civil society organisations. There is a broad recognition that the UN’s relevance relies on partnerships and external feedback.
Each issue consists of articles written by different contributors, who are given the freedom to explore the topic and reflect and shape their ideas, as well as share experiences. A key objective is to not define leadership uniformly or adopt specific academic theories. Instead, it proposes leadership as an art, echoing Dag Hammarskjöld’s belief in the creative, courageous, and skillful nature of leadership.
The report series has been produced since 2020, resulting in three issues so far – you will find them all below.
The Art of Leadership in the United Nations:
Our duty to find new forms
In this edition we make an enquiry into leadership across three dimensions of acute relevance to the UN today: leadership against a backdrop of normative erosion, leadership in fragile settings, and leadership marked by urgency and polycrisis.
Read the latest editionThe Art of Leadership in the United Nations:
Painting perspectives, staying true to principles
This publication brings together diverse perspectives on United Nations leadership today. Released only two years after our first publication on the topic, it has been put together under a radically altered context, shaped by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the accelerating threats of climate change and by new armed conflicts.
Read the publication hereThe Art of Leadership in the United Nations:
Framing What’s Blue
The first edition in this publication series strives to stimulate a conversation on how UN leadership could be enhanced to ensure its relevance and strengthen its impact at a time when both the UN and multilateralism are being tested.
Read the publication here