Asking Quote by Madeleine Albright
“The U.N. bureaucracy has grown to elephantine proportions. Now that the Cold War is over, we are asking that elephant to do gymnastics.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on UN bureaucracy, 2005
The speaker compares the UN’s massive bureaucracy to an elephant asked to perform gymnastics, highlighting inefficiency after the Cold War.
In simple terms: UN bureaucracy is huge and now asked to be flexible.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for streamlined, effective international institutions.
Themes
international relations
bureaucracy
post‑Cold War
efficiency
global governance
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy negotiations
- UN reform proposals
- multilateral cooperation
- budget reviews
Key Concepts
institutional reform
organizational behavior
political science
Questions to Reflect On
- What reforms could make the UN more agile?
- How can member states balance size and effectiveness?
A Different Perspective
Reforming large institutions is complex and may face resistance.
