The Future in the Past (Session 5)

The World Citizen Book Club concluded its five-part series on The Future in the Past by Dr. S.M. Sharei with this final session covering Chapter 9 (continued) and the Conclusion (pages 354-418). Participants reflected on the book’s full argument for constitutionalizing the United Nations through the rediscovery of Article 109(3).

About the Book

A forgotten clause in the UN Charter, the “San Francisco Promise,” offers a way forward to reform the United Nations from its current democratic deficit and the Security Council’s veto power. The permanent five members of the Security Council agreed to a clause allowing for Charter Review ten years after the UN came into force. This promise was activated in 1955 but was later breached and abandoned. The review conference, endowed in the Charter and legally still valid, could pave the way for writing a constitution for the UN, allowing it to reinvent itself to better face current and future global challenges and transform into a governance body fulfilling the objectives of the UN Charter’s preamble.

About the Author

Dr. S.M. Sharei specializes in public international law and the UN Charter and is the founding Executive Director and President of the Center for United Nations Constitutional Research (CUNCR). He holds a PhD and LLM in International Law, an MS in Computer Science, and a BSc in Applied Economics and Management. His research has focused on Security Council democratization, UN Charter constitutional transformation, and the legality and potential of the Article 109(3) review convention. Under his direction, CUNCR launched programs including the Youth Climate Ambassador initiative and the “How to Assemble Parliamentary Assemblies” series. For over 30 years, he has been an activist in nuclear disarmament, UN reform, the International Criminal Court, and democratic global governance.

Discussion Highlights

In this concluding session, the book club examined Dr. Sharei’s final arguments and conclusions about how the San Francisco Promise could be revived to create a more democratic and effective United Nations. Participants discussed the book’s vision for transforming the UN from what the author described as “illusive governance” into a democratic and effective body capable of delivering peace, environmental security, and meeting new global challenges. The series as a whole prompted rich discussion about the intersection of international law, political will, and the urgent need for institutional reform at the global level.