2023-09-14 17:48:10
The world is changing at an incredible speed, and institutions like the UN are outdated, says Isabelle Durant to L’Echo, during an interview regarding her new book.
Next week, world leaders will head to the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss crises shaking the world, from global warming to the war in Ukraine. Coincidence of timing, or not, Isabelle Durant is releasing a new book at the same time, The world here begins elsewhere (Colour Livres editions). A critical and constructive dive behind the scenes of international institutions, inspired by his personal journey.
The Echo met the politician who repeatedly led Ecolo, who was deputy prime minister, vice-president of the European Parliament and deputy director of UNCTAD in Geneva.
Why this book now?
“When we see this, we wonder what the UN is still for.”
After five years spent at the UN, and with everything I did before, in the European Parliament, at the Federal Government and in my municipality, I decided to consolidate my experiences and share them. Attention, This is not an expert’s book, but an account of experiences.
I’m wondering. Is the UN still the place that raises issues of peace and security loud and clear? I analyze this reality through examples, such as the war in Ukraine, which broke out at the same time as Russia chaired the UN Security Council. When we see this, we wonder what the UN is still for?.
The impotence of the UN in the face of the Russian invasion in Ukraine is a bitter failure, right?
It is a partial failure. This war and other outbreaks of war around the world are a failure. But to look only at that is to ignore everything that is being done elsewhere. A large web of actors, diplomats, NGOs and multiple networks in which we talk to each other and in which economic agreements are built. I worked on this, this invisible part.
The UN is also sustainable development, the idea of having an ideal world, where hunger is eradicated, even if it remains utopian. As an expert for the UN Human Rights Council, I work there to developing countriesparticularly on digital from which they are completely excluded.
Doesn’t the disenchantment between Europe and Africa complicate this work?
“Europe still believes that all of Africa will follow it.”
It’s very clear, the relationship between Westerners and Africans has deteriorated. For several reasons. The Chinese and Russians have increased their presence, through economic and, in Wagner’s case, military cooperation. There is also the question of the colonial past. All this means that Africans no longer systematically work with Europeans. We see it in Niger, with the end of Françafrique. They want to choose à la carte. And somehow, I don’t find that abnormal.
Europe still believes that all of Africa will follow it, for example on climate issues. But that is no longer the case. Europe must urgently reconnect with Africa. But to do it, she must get out of her current posture.
The Russian Wagner militia wants to establish itself in the DRC, where MONUSCO was supposed to preserve the peace. Isn’t this another admission of failure by the UN?
MONUSCO must certainly withdraw from Congo. It is a fact. But the UN still has a completely different vocation than Wagnerwho is just doing business.
That said, you have to be lucid. The UN must urgently change and open up to other actors. For now, it is a purely intergovernmental organization. If the States only use it to promote themselves during a speech in New York, it is of no use.
The first thing would be to open the UN. And not just to accredited civil society, which everyone knows. The UN must open up to these movements that are emerging all over the worldto climate activists, to economic and citizen fed-up movements.
“The world is transforming profoundly, at incredible speed, and institutions are not up to the task.”
Is multilateralism dead?
Of course not. We must be wary of this type of image. Take President Macron. Just before the war in Ukraine, he claimed that “NATO is brain dead.” Six months later, everyone is crying to join NATO.
The UN and multilateralism have serious imperfections. But it is also an irreplaceable system because there is the visible part, the failures in building peace, and the less known part, all construction on the socio-economic field of a multitude of extremely concrete projects that I detail in my book.
Is there still a chance for peace between Ukraine and Russia?
“The environmentalists have not had an easy time in power… covid, the war in Ukraine.”
I want to hope so, but peace is still far away. Putin remains in his bubble and his propaganda. The UN still has a role to play in achieving this. Take the grain agreement, it was done under the aegis of the UN, which was the inviting force. Its very important. Who would invite the parties to peace if the UN were not there?
Isn’t this war a symptom of an upheaval in global balance?
It’s clear. I started at the UN in 2017. It’s 2023, and it’s not the same world anymore. The balance of power has completely changed. We underestimated China. Putin’s power was ignored.
The world is transforming profoundly, at an incredible speed, and the institutions are not up to the task. African people no longer accept what they have endured for a long time. Debt and economic injustices are such that migrations will continue.
The European and Belgian elections are approaching. Are you going to introduce yourself?
No, I do not think so. I am more in an approach of support for those who come forward, for the environmentalists’ project. Afterwards, there are ups and downs, we will see the result of the elections. Environmentalists have not had an easy time in power… covid, the war in Ukraine. It’s a very complicated time to govern, it’s easier to be in opposition.
Do you fear a new institutional blockage in Belgium following the elections?
“We’ve lost the overall action. Everyone’s nose in their own business.”
Of course. Vivaldi is already a difficult government, even more so than the rainbow. We are heading towards complicated times, and we must answer the crucial questions such as the cost of living, the climate. But for now, with less than a year left, everyone remains cautious.
Aside from provocations on social networks…
Yes, but those are gesticulations, foaming. Some like to occupy space, with easy slogans.
What might change things?
We should all, citizens that we are, integrate European and international issues. My deep conviction, I explain it in my book, is that the scales of action are not separated. Today in politics, no one dares to carry out a complex debate.
We are too much in the local approach. Short circuits are very good, but they are not enough. We lost the overall action. Everybody’s got their nose in their own business. Mayors, deputies, regional ministers must also reconnect with the international community. And it’s difficult, especially in these times of nationalism where everyone is withdrawing into themselves.
Doing politics on the front line is much harder than it was twenty years ago. But that shouldn’t stop us from doing it.
Key phrases
- “I’m wondering. Is the UN still the place that raises issues of peace and security loud and clear?“
- “The UN must open up to these movements that are emerging all over the worldto climate activists, to economic and citizen fed-up movements.”
- “The world is transforming profoundly, at an incredible speedand the institutions are not up to the task.”
- “Today in politics, no one dares to carry out a complex debate.”
- “We are too much in the local approach. Short circuits are very good, but they are not enough.”
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#Isabelle #Durant #urgently #change #open #actors
