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What one sees in the evidence of decisions and policies undertaken by Waldheim, is that
focusing on the value of enhancement for the functions and securing the status of the United
Nations and the position of Secretary-General tends to show more relevance than a specific
sectarian doctrine. Now, what about pragmatism?
It was the description used most often by those who knew Waldheim best regarding his
primary values and the means by which he made decisions and choices. It is what Albert Rohan
meant by “finding a way”.
It is what other colleagues remarked when speaking about
Waldheim’s instinct for politics and what was possible. And for Waldheim, it was exhibited
best, perhaps in his own belief in the efficacy of quiet, behind-the-scenes diplomacy and
negotiation for the purposes of solving problems through incremental change.
An immediate problem within the Secretariat was the lack of financing and imminent
threat of bankruptcy. Waldheim’s choice was to cut budget, get commitments and pledges from
major powers for resources, and tighten operations. Pragmatic interests in finding a solution to
an embarrassing problem for the United Nations led to praise for leadership and determination
even by later critics such as his colleague Urquhart. As the General Assembly expands with new
nations and national staffs, demands on the Secretariat to provide employment for a pluralist
community equates to an immediate need to provide work for would be employees. What about
favoritism, incompetence, or pragmatic politics? According to one who served as an Under-
Secretary in the area of Administration, although the practice of bloating the staff to fit political
objectives may have begun to take off under Waldheim, it continues as an unsolved problem for
the United Nations to the present.
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So what would appear to be Waldheim’s pragmatism?
If in general, pragmatism
becomes that style of operation where meaning is found in the very application of processes and
Convention