Curated expert opinion on intractable contemporary issues
Global Outlook Articles by Jordan Ryan
Jordan Ryan is a member of the Toda International Research Advisory Council (TIRAC) at the Toda Peace Institute, a Senior Consultant to the Folke Bernadotte Academy (Sweden) and former Vice President for Peace at The Carter Center. He recently completed an assignment as the lead author of the UN integration review for the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. Mr. Ryan served as UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator from 2009-2014, was Deputy Special Representative in Liberia, and UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. He holds graduate degrees from Columbia University and George Washington University and received his B.A. from Yale University. He was also a fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School.
The Choice Is Still Clear: Renewing the UN Charter at 80
By Jordan Ryan | 27 June, 2025
The Charter of the United Nations, born from the ashes of the most destructive war in human history, embodied a commitment: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to uphold the dignity and worth of every human being, and to build peace through cooperation—not conquest.
From Democratic Leader to Autocratic Example: The Global Impact of U.S. Backsliding
By Jordan Ryan | 30 January, 2025
The Trump administration’s recent freeze on billions in federally authorised funding signals an alarming shift in democratic governance with global ramifications.
Dr. King’s Call to Justice: A Universal Beacon in Troubled Times
By Jordan Ryan | 18 January, 2025
On January 20, 2025, the United States will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honouring the life and legacy of a man who championed justice, nonviolence, and moral courage. This year, the holiday coincides with the presidential inauguration, an event often marked by political division and controversy.
The Death of Accountability: How America’s Democratic Crisis Threatens Freedom Worldwide
By Jordan Ryan | 16 January, 2025
When former U.S. President Richard Nixon declared, “When the president does it, that means it is not illegal,” Americans recoiled in horror. Today, that shocking claim is inching closer to legal reality.
A Defining Moment for the United Nations: The Global Stakes of U.S. Disengagement
By Jordan Ryan | 08 November, 2024
The recent U.S. election, which delivered a decisive popular vote and Electoral College victory for Donald Trump, signals a pivotal shift that could have profound implications for the United Nations and its capacity to uphold democratic norms and tackle pressing global challenges
Shaping a Sustainable Future Through the UN Pact for the Future
By Jordan Ryan | 01 October, 2024
How can we ensure this ambitious UN Pact for Future leads to tangible action and real, lasting change?
The views and opinions expressed in Global Outlook are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toda Peace Institute.