Laurence R. Helfer, J.D.
JD, New York University MPA, Princeton University BA, Yale University Law clerk to Chief Judge Dolores K. Sloviter of the U.S. Court of Appeals Senior Professor of International Law, Duke University School of Law Board of Editors of the American Journal of International Law and the Journal of World Intellectual Property. Email interview, December 2014 |
Student: How effective do you believe the United Nations is in promoting peaceful relationships between nations?
Laurence Helfer: "The UN provides a forum for states to discuss and respond to issues of mutual concern, in particular, trans-border problems such as terrorism and climate change."
Student: In what ways has the United Nations been a leader and what legacies has it formed?
Laurence Helfer: "The UN is a member-driven organization. It’s leadership depends upon the leadership of the member States. The UN’s legacy is in part a product of the time when it was established – by the Allied Powers immediately after the Second World War."
Student: How would the world be different if the United Nations did not exist How was the world prior to the existence of the United Nations?
Laurence Helfer: "There is always a need for an international forum for interstate cooperation. Such cooperation occurs bilaterally, regionally and in global international institutions such as the United Nations. If the UN did not exist, cooperation would occur in these other venues, but there are real advantages to having a global forum to which all States can be members."
Student: What are some ways that we could improve the United Nations as a whole?
Laurence Helfer: "Restructure the membership of the UN Security Council and revise the unilateral veto by the five permanent members of the Council."
Laurence Helfer: "The UN provides a forum for states to discuss and respond to issues of mutual concern, in particular, trans-border problems such as terrorism and climate change."
Student: In what ways has the United Nations been a leader and what legacies has it formed?
Laurence Helfer: "The UN is a member-driven organization. It’s leadership depends upon the leadership of the member States. The UN’s legacy is in part a product of the time when it was established – by the Allied Powers immediately after the Second World War."
Student: How would the world be different if the United Nations did not exist How was the world prior to the existence of the United Nations?
Laurence Helfer: "There is always a need for an international forum for interstate cooperation. Such cooperation occurs bilaterally, regionally and in global international institutions such as the United Nations. If the UN did not exist, cooperation would occur in these other venues, but there are real advantages to having a global forum to which all States can be members."
Student: What are some ways that we could improve the United Nations as a whole?
Laurence Helfer: "Restructure the membership of the UN Security Council and revise the unilateral veto by the five permanent members of the Council."