Aggression Quote by Samantha Power
“Changing the DNA of a large, multilateral organization such as the United Nations to deal effectively with modern threats is not easy. Indeed, when the United Nations was created in the wake of World War II, threats came almost exclusively from one state carrying out acts of aggression against another.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on UN Reform, United Nations General Assembly, 2021
Transforming a massive, entrenched institution to address new, complex challenges is difficult because its original design targeted simpler, state‑centric threats.
In simple terms: Changing big old organizations for new problems is hard.
Adapt structures to current realities.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy drafting
- multinational negotiations
- crisis response
- capacity building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What structural changes are needed now?
- How can member states align on modern threats?
Resistance from legacy interests can slow reform.