October 24th, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. On this day in 1945, the United Nations Charter came into force as an authority on international cooperation. Following the turmoil of two world wars, nations around the globe felt the need for a centralized treaty to foster peace and advance human rights.
The concept was new, but not unprecedented. In 1920, as World War I came to a close, world governments had formed the League of Nations with a similar goal in mind. At its height, the League’s membership consisted of 55 nations spanning six continents. However, structural weaknesses and internal conflict led to its dissolution in 1946, to be replaced by the new United Nations. If you’d like to learn more about this, check out ‘The League is Dead. Long live the United Nations.’ from the National World War II Museum.
As of today, the United Nations has 193 member states, nearly quadruple that of the League of Nations. Through programmes, specialized agencies, and partner organizations, the UN spearheads peacekeeping initiatives, offers humanitarian aid, promotes education and economic development, and works to improve everyday living standards around the world. This ability to provide material support and measurable impacts has contributed to the UN’s longevity and effectiveness.
Even so, the United Nations faces its fair share of criticism. Although the UN attempts to establish standards of international law, it lacks consistent methods of enforcement. Specifically, the veto power of the permanent council members makes it nearly impossible for the UN to act in opposition to the interests of those nations. Other critiques include its tendency to favor neoliberal economic positions, prioritization of Western nations to the detriment of the global South, and delayed responses to humanitarian crises. For a more detailed discussion of these varying perspectives on the UN, see Katelyn Balakir’s article Failures and Successes of the UN.
Looking forward, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has established the UN80 Initiative, which aims to evaluate the UN’s organizational processes and ongoing effectiveness. The initiative emphasizes adapting and responding effectively to new concerns, such as the regulation of AI and changes in global resource availability, as well as addressing internal inefficiency.
To observe this 80th anniversary United Nations Day here at FSU Libraries, visit our UN Day book display on the lower level of Strozier! The display centers human rights advocacy on the international stage. Explore broader perspectives on the efficacy of the United Nations, policy guidance on the protection of human rights, and in-depth examinations of specific topics such as access to food and water, health care, women’s rights, and indigenous issues.
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