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U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar: The Office and the Man
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When looking at the case of Perez de Cuellar we first note some of the early
influences on his thought (Catholicism) and the personal values he held (an ethics ofliberalism). Each of these can be understood as a value system that stresses the equal andautonomous worth of individuals, especially those in need, as well as a concern for peaceand justice. These values also overlap with the norms of the UN Charter, especially itshuman rights provisions.
His public statements often accorded greater weight to the UN Charter than to
Catholicism or liberalism. This is to be expected. The Secretary General as a publicofficial is more likely to publicly ground his policies and actions in international law thanin personal values. One does not build support or deflect criticism by stressing one’sinner code of right and wrong, but rather by stressing the duties of the office under publicnorms. Personal values and public law, however, can be inextricably intertwined. Forexample, Perez de Cuellar’s bold policies in Central America were the result of thepolitical space provided by powerful states, as well as the norms of the UN Charter; butwhat he did there also reflected his personal values. Dynamism in pursuit of publicnorms, in the context of political space provided by others, may be a product of personalvalues.
Despite Perez de Cuellar’s personal views or the principles of the Charter,
however, political reality often limited his course of action. International relations andpower politics being what they are, often the wishes of powerful states in thisWestphalian system trumped the initiatives, not to mention the personal values, of Perezde Cuellar. Fundamentally if the permanent members of the Security Council or if theparties in a conflict are unwilling to compromise or negotiate or support the SecretaryGeneral, none of the Secretary General’s initiatives, motivated by religious beliefs orotherwise, make a difference. Thus the Secretary General can only do as much as morepowerful actors allow him to do.
4
As one of his colleagues said, “There is no point
diving into an empty swimming pool.”
5
Of course, he was not the only Secretary General
to have to give up on a preferred course of action because he lacked the necessarypolitical support.
Given Perez de Cuellar’s recognition of the weakness of his office, given his own
modesty resulting in a reluctance to use the Secretary General’s office for personalcrusades, and given his fear of what he called “moral hubris,”
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it is not surprising that his
personal views were not overwhelmingly influential during this tenure. He knew therewere pragmatic limits to what the Secretary General and the United Nations couldachieve in international politics. Moreover, he believed that the position of the SecretaryGeneral depended upon a reputation for impartiality or neutrality, which necessarilylimited any personal crusade.
7
4
Courtney Smith, “More Secretary or General? Effective Leadership at the UN,” International Politics, 40
(2003), 137-147 at 145.
5
Interview, New York, December, 2004.
6
Need cite
7
Javier Perez de Cuellar, “The Role of the UN Secretary-General,” in Adam Roberts and Benedict
Kingsbury, eds., United Nations, Divided World: The United Nation’s Role in International Relations,(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994, 2
nd
ed.), 125-142.
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| | Authors: Forsythe, David. |
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2
When looking at the case of Perez de Cuellar we first note some of the early
influences on his thought (Catholicism) and the personal values he held (an ethics of
liberalism). Each of these can be understood as a value system that stresses the equal and
autonomous worth of individuals, especially those in need, as well as a concern for peace
and justice. These values also overlap with the norms of the UN Charter, especially its
human rights provisions.
His public statements often accorded greater weight to the UN Charter than to
Catholicism or liberalism. This is to be expected. The Secretary General as a public
official is more likely to publicly ground his policies and actions in international law than
in personal values. One does not build support or deflect criticism by stressing one’s
inner code of right and wrong, but rather by stressing the duties of the office under public
norms. Personal values and public law, however, can be inextricably intertwined. For
example, Perez de Cuellar’s bold policies in Central America were the result of the
political space provided by powerful states, as well as the norms of the UN Charter; but
what he did there also reflected his personal values. Dynamism in pursuit of public
norms, in the context of political space provided by others, may be a product of personal
values.
Despite Perez de Cuellar’s personal views or the principles of the Charter,
however, political reality often limited his course of action. International relations and
power politics being what they are, often the wishes of powerful states in this
Westphalian system trumped the initiatives, not to mention the personal values, of Perez
de Cuellar. Fundamentally if the permanent members of the Security Council or if the
parties in a conflict are unwilling to compromise or negotiate or support the Secretary
General, none of the Secretary General’s initiatives, motivated by religious beliefs or
otherwise, make a difference. Thus the Secretary General can only do as much as more
powerful actors allow him to do.
4
As one of his colleagues said, “There is no point
diving into an empty swimming pool.”
5
Of course, he was not the only Secretary General
to have to give up on a preferred course of action because he lacked the necessary
political support.
Given Perez de Cuellar’s recognition of the weakness of his office, given his own
modesty resulting in a reluctance to use the Secretary General’s office for personal
crusades, and given his fear of what he called “moral hubris,”
6
it is not surprising that his
personal views were not overwhelmingly influential during this tenure. He knew there
were pragmatic limits to what the Secretary General and the United Nations could
achieve in international politics. Moreover, he believed that the position of the Secretary
General depended upon a reputation for impartiality or neutrality, which necessarily
limited any personal crusade.
7
4
Courtney Smith, “More Secretary or General? Effective Leadership at the UN,” International Politics, 40
(2003), 137-147 at 145.
5
Interview, New York, December, 2004.
6
Need cite
7
Javier Perez de Cuellar, “The Role of the UN Secretary-General,” in Adam Roberts and Benedict
Kingsbury, eds., United Nations, Divided World: The United Nation’s Role in International Relations,
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994, 2
nd
ed.), 125-142.
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