THE THEME

Conquering Complexity as an International Agent

The international community is faced with complex if not impossible problems. Humanitarian aid may fall into the wrong hands, peace treaties may incite violence, while war may shape development and economic growth. Sexism and racism halt constructive dialogue, while minorities remain vulnerable around the world. These are only some examples of the many complexities relevant today. For a very long time, the international community has organised itself through various organisations in order to counter these realities, today most notably the United Nations. Though progress has been made, some problems seem complex to such an extent that they last on a structural level. Can international organisations, states and actors expect to significantly change these complexities and if so how? And to what extent are international organisations part of these complexities? It seems unclear how agents in the international context can and should behave around these complexities.