Eugene Chen

Collective security beyond the Security Council is possible by drawing creatively upon other neglected tools. We can learn from the Cold War, when proactive Secretaries-General and the General Assembly worked around Security Council deadlock. casquebleu.substack.com/p/collective...

Some more thoughts from me on the SG's peace operations review report, particularly on what's missing (the incompatibility of stabilization), what's misleading (full spectrum of peace operations), and what's wrong (Secretary-General as powerless). www.globalgovernance.eu/publications...

Over the past few months, I've been struck by how many people unaware of the distinctions between the various types of entities and organizations in the #UN system. These aren't trivia; they need to be understood in any attempt at mergers or reorganization. casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-is-th...

18 months in, the structural reform workstream of #UN80 has failed to meet expectations. What went wrong and why? And how should a serious attempt at #UN structural reorganization be approached? casquebleu.substack.com/p/all-of-the...

How do countries view the #UnitedNations? 🇺🇳 🌐 Ahead of the opening of United Nations General Assembly, people across 37 countries view the UN more favorably than unfavorably. However, views in some countries have turned more negative in recent years.

The peace operations review report is out at long last. TL;DR: it effectively argues for the status quo. In this reaction piece, I highlight the areas I thought the report got wrong, the items that are missing entirely, and what member states should do now. casquebleu.substack.com/p/nothing-ne...

Over the past few decades, UN peace operations have been subverted from their original purpose of promoting liberal peace towards becoming tools of authoritarian conflict management. This week, I look at how this happened and ways to counter the trend. casquebleu.substack.com/p/peace-oper...

My recent Substack piece was a response to some of the recommendations from a report on backroom deals by 1 for 8 Billion. It's definitely worth reading in full: 1for8billion.org/backroom-deals @arbeider4fred.bsky.social wrote a thoughtful response to my criticism which is also worth reading.

Backroom deals between candidates for Secretary-General and the permanent members of the Security Council are an unavoidable part of the selection process. But there are ways to mitigate the political pressure, and even potential silver linings to such deals. casquebleu.substack.com/p/living-wit...

Plusieurs de mes publications sur Substack concernant les opérations de paix sont désormais disponibles en français, grâce à l'Observatoire Boutros-Ghali. www.observatoire-boutros-ghali.org/2026/07/reco...

On 1 July, the US announced that it would not accept continuation of the #UN Support Office in Somalia #UNSOS beyond the end of the year. In this post, I highlight three takeaways from this saga that should inform future thinking on peace ops and partnership. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-end-of...

This week, #UN Secretariat staff were told that there is only enough cash on hand to pay salaries through August, but it's not clear that leadership is ready to take the decisions necessary to keep the Organization running through the end of the year. casquebleu.substack.com/p/quick-thou...

This week, I examine why and when countries fail to pay their #UN dues to show that the weaponization of assessed contributions isn't going away anytime soon. The UN needs to reduce its financial reliance on a small number of countries, and soon. casquebleu.substack.com/p/a-la-carte...

Policymakers don't seem to understand comparative advantage. Although embracing the concept should help improve coherence and collective impact of #UN response, misunderstanding it exacerbates existing turf wars and fragmentation. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-perils...

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of gratis personnel in the #UN Secretariat, particularly for #peacekeeping. This week, I examine why this is happening and whether it is a positive development. casquebleu.substack.com/p/gratis-per...

The #UN needs to accept that U.S. non-payment is the new normal. Many of the reforms that the U.S. is now demanding should be implemented not because of the possibility that the U.S. will pay up, but because those reforms are, in fact, necessary. casquebleu.substack.com/p/reforms-wo...

The fact that the Falklands is back in the news complicates Rafael Grossi’s run for #UN Secretary-General as the dispute may make support for an Argentine candidate a non-starter for the UK, which retains a veto in the selection process.

The interactive dialogues marked a new phase in the race for #UN Secretary-General, but the shape of the race remains much the same as it was beforehand. The race is still open, and more candidates are likely to emerge in the months ahead. casquebleu.substack.com/p/secretary-...

Reimbursement underpins the form and function of troops and police in #UN #peacekeeping. Without a fit-for-purpose framework, efforts to improve the relevance and effectiveness of peace operations will be doomed to failure. casquebleu.substack.com/p/burning-di...

Reimbursements to troop-contributing countries are the largest expense in #peacekeeping, and rates are artificially inflated by inclusion of pass-thru payments. Reducing rates would allow more troops to be deployed and more TCCs to benefit from participation. casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-drive...

I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel this week during which I shared my thoughts on the à la carte financing approach of the Trump administration, the rise of non-UN alternatives to #peacekeeping, and what we need from the next Secretary-General. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK7h...

Improving the security of peacekeepers is not something that can be solved through more training or better equipment. It's a doctrinal issue tied to the fact that peacekeepers have become parties to conflict. Has the shift to stabilization been worth it? casquebleu.substack.com/p/improving-...

We've been talking about the importance of local ownership in #peacebuilding for years now, with little effect. Part of the problem is the basic setup of the international civil service. This week, I look at measures that can help overcome these barriers. casquebleu.substack.com/p/walking-th...

Accelerated #UN transitions are here to stay, and long-standing problems—including mission-centric mindsets, administrative and budgetary obstacles, and planning deficiencies—need to be fixed to avoid jeopardizing hard-won peacebuilding gains. casquebleu.substack.com/p/un-transit...

🔍 Le dernier rapport politique d'Eugene Chen (@casquebleu.org) examine quatre défis persistants qui affectent aujourd'hui les #opérations de paix des #NationsUnies.

The #UN is developing a new vision for police in #peacekeeping. How can we make sure this exercise doesn't exacerbate internal turf wars but instead helps peace operations meet the moment and address unintended negative consequences of existing approaches? casquebleu.substack.com/p/considerat...

A French translation of my report setting out a new vision for #UN peace operations is now available, thanks to the support of @dgris.bsky.social (French Ministry of Armed Forces).

The #UN is in dire financial straits because of non-payment by the United States. But instead of taking the necessary steps needed to keep the organization afloat, the Secretary-General is more interested in playing the blame game and avoiding responsibility. casquebleu.substack.com/p/whether-th...

The working methods that emerged after the Cold War at the #UN do not suffice when the U.S. no longer pretends to adhere to a rules-based order. In the absence of leadership from the Secretary-General, member states need to think—and act—outside the box. casquebleu.substack.com/p/leadership...

Following approval of major budget cuts proposed by the Secretary-General, the #UN enters 2026 with a dramatically worsened financial position. Unless something major changes, U.S. non-payment means the organization is slipping into a budgetary death spiral. casquebleu.substack.com/p/fifth-comm...

Back in July, I wrote this piece on how the Trump administration treats international law and norms opportunistically, using them as justification when useful and ignoring them when not convenient. Although the piece was about the #UN, it applies to U.S. foreign policy more broadly. #Venezuela.

The race for the next #UN Secretary-General has begun. This week, I make five predictions based on the process agreed and the interests of key Member States on: 1️⃣ Profile of candidates 2️⃣ Gender 3️⃣ Regional representation 4️⃣ What the P5 will demand 5️⃣ Timeline casquebleu.substack.com/p/prediction...

Are #UN staff overpaid? Maybe. But short-sighted cuts pushed in the #FifthCommittee are counterproductive. We need a broader rethink of compensation to make the int'l civil service affordable while also being able to effectively respond to today's challenges. casquebleu.substack.com/p/are-un-sta...

Reimbursement for troops and equipment in #UN #peacekeeping is not just a financial matter. How reimbursement is paid—and for what—helps shape Member State behavior and Secretariat processes, with under-appreciated implications for performance and effectiveness. open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...

Unfortunately, the #FifthCommittee failed to meet the moment on this. Instead of protecting the budgetary prerogatives of the General Assembly, it rolled over by agreeing on a rubber-stamp draft resolution on the implementation or resolution 2719. undocs.org/en/A/80/527

Member States should use the peace operations review to rethink the scope and working methods of the Special Committee on #Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) to reposition the C-34 as a body that can productively shape #UN peace operations moving forward. casquebleu.substack.com/p/re-imagini...

Reducing the U.S. share of the #UN budget would help mitigate the cash shortfall, but it is unlikely to happen due to the zero-sum nature of negotiations over the scales of assessments and the consensus-based decision making process in the #FifthCommittee. casquebleu.substack.com/p/can-changi...

It's been over 10 years since the last large-scale UN mission start-up. This week, I provide a refresher on start-up funding arrangements, explain the Secretary-General's request for the UN Support Office in #Haiti, and point out some issues with the request. casquebleu.substack.com/p/getting-th...

The #UN80 mandate review highlights the use of the phrase "within existing resources" by delegates wishing to handwave away pesky budgetary issues. But the way it's currently being used goes against the Charter and decisions of the General Assembly. casquebleu.substack.com/p/how-do-you...

The UN has been forced to repatriate 25% of troops and police in #peacekeeping missions to deal with cash shortages stemming primarily from U.S. non-payment. I explain why existing liquidity mechanisms were insufficient and what this means going forward. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-contin...

U.S. arrears at the #UN are mounting, and it is at risk of losing its vote in the General Assembly. This week, I dive into when this might happen and what the consequences might be. casquebleu.substack.com/p/is-the-us-...

Talk of modular approaches in peace operations is in the air, but there are many different interpretations and uses of the concept. What are the different schools of thought and which should be the focus of #UN80 and the peace operations review? casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-do-we...

The Security Council never needed resolution 2719 to be able to provide assessed contributions to non-UN forces, and the likelihood of 2719 application seems more remote than ever. It's time to look beyond 2719 in designing effective partnership arrangements. casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-now-f...

In my latest piece, I examine the #UN80 revised estimates and explain how the initiative risks exacerbating the liquidity crisis, precipitating a loss of talent, and undermining the ability of the next Secretary-General to define a path forward for the #UN. casquebleu.substack.com/p/nobody-wan...

This is the one week of the year where I can say things like: Sorry I’m late to this meeting; I was stuck behind the Spanish and Swedish kings while waiting for the elevator.

Do we actually know if Waltz is a member of the Cabinet? The U.S. Representative to the UN is not automatically a Cabinet-rank position, and although Stefanik was nominated as a Cabinet-level official, I haven't yet seen anything to that effect for Waltz.

On UNGA's one-year deadline for Israel to comply with its legal obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Erica Gaston writes that Member States have ample options for responding to the situation in Gaza, drawing from 80 years of practice: www.justsecurity.org/120901/from-...

The #UN80 revised estimates were released this week. In this week's post, I look at the cuts and changes proposed for the peace and security pillar (DPPA and DPO), assessing the likely motivations behind the changes proposed and why these fall short. casquebleu.substack.com/p/restructur...