As of this week, four candidates have auditioned to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations. In 2016, there were thirteen candidates. This drastic change led leaders and members of the assembly to call for more people to audition. 

Why are so few candidates entering the race? Leaders believe there has been a strong shift towards division over the past decade, making it difficult to maintain peace and unity. Richard Gowan, a program director of the U.N’s International Crisis Group, told P.B.S. News, “There is a feeling that if a candidate puts a foot wrong and offends Washington or Beijing, it could cause real diplomatic damage.” Considering the world’s hostility towards even the smallest of issues, the assembly is worried that any potential changes could be detrimental to the future. Candidates typically get nominated by their home countries or other countries within the U.N. (A.P. News). Almost every current candidate was nominated by their home country, with only one exception. 

In such a divided world, it’s hard to blame people for shying away from this position. A decade ago, the world was in a much calmer state. Now, conflicts are abundant, from the Ukrainian and Iranian wars to the Palestinian genocide. If the future selected candidate is opposed to other countries or individuals, it could affect not only the future of the U.N., but of world peace as a whole. 

The term limit for secretary-general expires on December 31st, so selection of a new candidate is approaching. Secretaries-general can carry two terms, and the current officeholder, Antonio Guterres, was elected in 2016. During his run for office, too many candidates were nominated, leading to a cutoff of candidates entering the race. The U.N. is now faced with the opposite problem. The selection for current candidates began in November, 2025.   

Whoever is elected to become secretary-general must be diplomatic and able to work well in conflict. Compared to ten years ago, there is a big difference in the political habits of world leaders. The future secretary-general must be open-minded when stepping into the future of diplomacy.