This is a summary of the presentation of Dr. Claude Béglé, Member of the Swiss Parliament (2015-2019); CEO, SymbioSwiss, in the webinar entitled "Re-imagining the United Nations for a New Era of Peace" organised by the International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP) Europe and Middle East (EUME) on 28 July 2026.
Dr. Claude Béglé proposed a renewal of the United Nations based on three major reforms: restructuring the Security Council, strengthening the General Assembly through specialized committees, and creating a bicameral system with both a lower and an upper house.
1. A more representative and balanced Security Council
Dr. Béglé argued that the present Security Council no longer reflects the realities of the contemporary world. It cannot be appropriate for global governance to remain primarily in the hands of the victors of the Second World War. He proposed expanding the number of permanent members—potentially to 21 or 25, alongside some rotating members—to achieve broader geographical and political representation.
At the same time, the veto should no longer belong to a single country. A veto would instead require a coalition of at least three countries, meaning that no single power could block collective action on its own. This would encourage negotiation, coalition-building and greater balance within the Council.
2. A General Assembly supported by four major committees
Dr. Béglé envisioned the General Assembly being complemented by four principal working committees:
- Economic and Social Development (ECOSOC): bringing together major multilateral financial and development institutions—including the World Bank, IMF and emerging institutions such as China's investment funds—to coordinate projects serving global development.
- Peace and Conflict Prevention: addressing the underlying causes of conflict—including poverty, water and migration—before tensions escalate into war. This committee would also engage non-state actors, since many contemporary conflicts are not simply conflicts between governments. He supported stronger mandates for UN peacekeepers and the creation of a professional, neutral corps of mediators capable of guiding conflicts through ceasefires and negotiations toward lasting peace.
- Environment and Health: addressing challenges such as climate change, natural disasters and pandemics, which by their nature require genuinely multilateral solutions.
- Culture and Artificial Intelligence: promoting an AI that reflects the diversity of humanity rather than the values of only a few dominant technological powers. Since language carries culture, AI development should draw upon the world's many languages and cultural traditions—including Western, Chinese, Indian, African and other perspectives—so that people across cultures can recognize themselves in the systems being developed.
3. A bicameral UN: a Lower House and an Upper House
Finally, Dr. Béglé endorsed the Founders' proposal for a bicameral United Nations. A Lower House would deal primarily with practical and concrete matters, while an Upper House would address the values and principles that should guide international decision-making.
The Upper House could include religious leaders together with other respected thought leaders—artists, philosophers and individuals chosen for their wisdom and competence rather than as representatives of particular nations. Dr. Béglé emphasized that religious leaders have a unique ability to influence public attitudes and promote the common good. He cited his own environmental work with an Indian religious leader as an example of how spiritual leaders can mobilize millions of people and help transform social attitudes.
In essence, Dr. Béglé called for a United Nations that is more representative politically, more effective in preventing and resolving conflict, better equipped to address global challenges, and more attentive to the world's cultural and spiritual diversity. His central message was that global governance should combine practical political action with the wisdom, values and moral leadership needed to serve the common good of humanity.
Dr. Claude Béglé is a former member of the Swiss Parliament and the Founder and President of the Symbioswiss, a Club of Entrepreneurs with a business-oriented vision, and of Swiss NeWater. He has a PhD in Economics and Master’s degrees in Law and International Relations. He has held leading positions in prestigious organizations and companies, in numerous countries around the globe, including Nestlé and DHL Express. Dr. Béglé has been involved with a wide spectrum of sectors, such as support for innovation and start-ups, cleantechs and the environment.