Power, Process and Participation: The Search for the Next Secretary-General
To read the full report, please download the PDF here.
The search for the next UN Secretary-General is unfolding amid rising conflict, intensifying geopolitical tensions, and growing strain on multilateral institutions. At this moment of global uncertainty, the choice of the next Secretary-General will shape both the organisation’s credibility and its ability to navigate in an increasingly fraught international environment.
This research report examines the selection and appointment process of the next UN Secretary-General. It provides an analytically grounded overview of the rules, procedures, and informal practices shaping the process, drawing lessons from the 2015/2016 cycle and reflecting on recent developments, including the 2025 General Assembly revitalisation resolution and the 25 November 2025 joint letter that launched the search. The report also highlights recurring issues that have shaped past selection cycles and continue to resurface, underscoring the enduring tensions and unresolved questions that characterise the process.
By mapping key issues related to engagement with the candidates, straw polls, and the tensions between the roles of the Security Council and General Assembly, the report examines potential challenges that may emerge and provides options to address them. It shows how power dynamics, procedural choices, and participation across the process will shape both the legitimacy and outcome of the selection process.
