--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reality is that international…" description: "\"The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be.\" — Atal Bihari Vajpayee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png" --- # The reality is that international institutions like the UN… ![“The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be.” quote by Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png) > “The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be.” [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. International bodies can only work as well as their member states are willing to support and cooperate. **In simple terms:** The UN’s power depends on its members’ commitment. Key Takeaway Strengthen member commitment for effectiveness. Themes global governance cooperation politics Mood cautious hopeful Type political analytical When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy advocacy - multilateral negotiations - NGO partnerships Key Concepts international relations institutional theory Questions to Reflect On - How can members be incentivized? - What reforms could improve UN effectiveness? A Different Perspective Political disagreements can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/) ## Related quotes > [The press is no substitute for institutions. It is like the beam of a searchlight that moves restlessly about, bringing one episode and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-press-is-no-substitute-for-institutions-it-is-like-the-beam-of-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [You will be most effective when members can complement each other without embarrassment and disagree without fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-scholtes/you-will-be-most-effective-when-members-can-complement-each-other/) [Peter R. Scholtes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-scholtes/) > [You will be most effective when members can compliment each other without embarrassment and disagree without fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-scholtes/you-will-be-most-effective-when-members-can-compliment-each-other/) [Peter R. Scholtes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-scholtes/) > [Trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and participation in international institutions all serve to erode the legitimacy of repressive regimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/trade-tourism-cultural-exchange-and-participation-in-international/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [“Without the participation of one fifth of the global population, without the endorsement of the world's second-largest economy, without the political will and security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-yizhou/without-the-participation-of-one-fifth-of-the-global-population/) Wang Yizhou > [In the absence of an engaged, diplomatically energized America, others will set the agenda, shape the rules and dominate international institutions - and probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/in-the-absence-of-an-engaged-diplomatically-energized-america-others/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [International institutions like the Security Council, the General Assembly, the G20, the BRICs, the IMF, etc., continue to be little more than an extension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/international-institutions-like-the-security-council-the-general/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [The European Union will continue to fully support multilateral global governance based on international law, human rights, and strong international institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federica-mogherini/the-european-union-will-continue-to-fully-support-multilateral-global/) [Federica Mogherini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federica-mogherini/) > [Where there is a confluence of interests among nations, as, for example the swine flu or polio, you can get well functioning international institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/where-there-is-a-confluence-of-interests-among-nations-as-for-example/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [International institutions are composed of governments. Governments control their own military forces and police.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/international-institutions-are-composed-of-governments-governments/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [Conservatives believe that international institutions such as the United Nations are anti-American and anti-Israeli cabals. Progressives do not like the economic medicine that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/conservatives-believe-that-international-institutions-such-as-the/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [ The peoples are not awake...\[There are dangers\] which will render a world organization impossible. I foresee the renewal of...the secret bargaining behind closed doors.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-la-fontaine/the-peoples-are-not-awake-there-are-dangers-which-will-render-a-world/) Henri La Fontaine > [The issue with international institutions is that there is a crisis of legitimacy. Trust in these institutions is a serious problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/the-issue-with-international-institutions-is-that-there-is-a-crisis/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [International institutions ought to be, as the national ones in democratic countries, established by the peoples and for the peoples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-la-fontaine/international-institutions-ought-to-be-as-the-national-ones-in/) Henri La Fontaine > [I mean that the time where we need International agreement more than ever on the environment and the rest, poverty we are breaking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-short/i-mean-that-the-time-where-we-need-international-agreement-more-than/) [Clare Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-short/) ## More by Atal Bihari Vajpayee > [Declaring victory without war .. the belief that India gave up the option of war under American pressure is totally wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/declaring-victory-without-war-the-belief-that-india-gave-up-the/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [If the elections are a mere fraud, why are terrorists being trained and infiltrated into India at the command of the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/if-the-elections-are-a-mere-fraud-why-are-terrorists-being-trained/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [No state should be allowed to profess partnership with the global coalition against terror, while continuing to aid, abet and sponsor terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/no-state-should-be-allowed-to-profess-partnership-with-the-global/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [India has a consistent and well-known position on terrorism. We oppose all acts of terrorism, wherever they occur. We have repeatedly said that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/india-has-a-consistent-and-well-known-position-on-terrorism-we-oppose/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [I try to indulge my muse whenever I am able to get away from it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/i-try-to-indulge-my-muse-whenever-i-am-able-to-get-away-from-it-all/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new possibilities and new areas of cooperation in advance in democracy, in combating terrorism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/as-we-talk-with-candour-we-open-the-doors-to-new-possibilities-and/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [If Pakistan claims to be a crucial partner in the international coalition against terrorism, how can it continue to use terrorism as an instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/if-pakistan-claims-to-be-a-crucial-partner-in-the-international/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [India has no dearth of brave young men and women and if they get the opportunity and help then we can compete with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/india-has-no-dearth-of-brave-young-men-and-women-and-if-they-get-the/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [I would like that no citizen of the state feels alone and helpless. The entire nation is with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/i-would-like-that-no-citizen-of-the-state-feels-alone-and-helpless/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [No one can be considered untouchable on political grounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/no-one-can-be-considered-untouchable-on-political-grounds/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [The overwhelming public sentiment in India was that no meaningful dialogue can be held with Pakistan until it abandons the use of terrorism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-overwhelming-public-sentiment-in-india-was-that-no-meaningful/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [The prime minister's office is not something that one enjoys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-prime-minister-s-office-is-not-something-that-one-enjoys/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [We want peace to be permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/we-want-peace-to-be-permanent/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [I am contesting elections since 1952, but never did I throw mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/i-am-contesting-elections-since-1952-but-never-did-i-throw-mud/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [It requires an effort of logical acrobatics to believe that carnage of innocents is an instrument for freedom and elections are a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/it-requires-an-effort-of-logical-acrobatics-to-believe-that-carnage/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) [Explore all 103 Atal Bihari Vajpayee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) ## More Institutions quotes > [The minimum that most minimalists want leaves in place just the institutions who protect their interests. That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/the-minimum-that-most-minimalists-want-leaves-in-place-just-the/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“Economists have a singular method of procedure. There are only two kinds of institutions for them, artificial and natural. The institutions of feudalism are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/economists-have-a-singular-method-of-procedure-there-are-only-two/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I find the family the most mysterious and fascinating institution in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-find-the-family-the-most-mysterious-and-fascinating-institution-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/our-laws-and-our-institutions-must-necessarily-be-based-upon-and/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [It is impossible to build enduring institutions without solid values. For us, the fundamental value is that associated with democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-henrique-cardoso/it-is-impossible-to-build-enduring-institutions-without-solid-values/) [Fernando Henrique Cardoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-henrique-cardoso/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/) Sheila Kamerman > [Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hewison/individually-museums-are-fine-institutions-dedicated-to-the-high/) [Robert Hewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hewison/) > [The more subsidized it is, the less free it is. What is known as 'free education' is the least free of all, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chodorov/the-more-subsidized-it-is-the-less-free-it-is-what-is-known-as-free/) [Frank Chodorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chodorov/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) [Browse all 2,906 Institutions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Atal Bihari Vajpayee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-reality-is-that-international-institutions-like-the-un-can-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Institutions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-reality-is-that-international-institutions-like-the-un-can-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_institutions_the-reality-is-that-international-instit_2280031.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it…” — Atal Bihari Vajpayee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Atal Bihari Vajpayee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The reality is that international institutions...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-reality-is-that-international-institutions-like-the-un-can-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-reality-is-that-international-institutions-like-the-un-can-only/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```