2025 is a unique moment to reflect on both the heritage of the past, and the challenges for the future.

The evident (inalienable human rights for example) have become less certain. The obvious: humanity finds itself at an undeniable crossroads. Long term trends weigh-in on every aspect of society: population growth, fragile democracies, the westernization of political discourse. Perspectives taken for granted 80 years ago, appear un-true. Moral injury inflicted daily.

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) may be a grand misnomer. In phenomenological terms, the concept “threshold” illustrates this best. We attempt to create a typology of contexts – at a given moment and on different scales – to better understand how the normative is attacked, and the risks for the dis-integration of the social fabric aggravated. In terms of multilateral systems as well, the concept is useful to study the effects of the dialectics from within the demise of the actual UNO. It could bring to the fore more accurately the strengths and weaknesses of the model, when its paradigms lose impact on global governance and human dignity.

We have maintained this special interest in U.N. Reform, from the task force of the JIU (Joint Inspection Unit) in 1975 to UN80. Why didn’t the UN become a political force? To address unconscionable violence, unprecedented. How shall we resist and dare to rise with the values our parents fought for?

We learned to analyse these issues, in inordinately diverse situations. We advocated the need to grasp more holistically health and education systems. We attempted to influence policies in ways that enhance interaction between the political spheres and the technical levels.