Blue Helmets, Red Tape
This is a platform that provides me a vehicle through which to provide analysis and commentary on an issue related to the United Nations—such as institutional reform, financing, or peace operations—that has been on my mind.
Unlike my longer-form publications, these posts will be shorter pieces intended to be more timely, digestible, and actionable. This column is intended for an audience of United Nations insiders, including delegates, desk officers in capitals, UN staff members, and researchers.
The views expressed in my Substack commentary are my own views and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations University, where I am currently a senior fellow, or those of any of the other organizations with which I am affiliated.
Who am I?
I’m an PhD student in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London whose research examines the interplay of substantive policy, intergovernmental politics and bureaucratic processes at the UN in the areas of peace and security, institutional reform, and financing.
My research (and commentary) draw heavily from my experience as a practitioner. Before entering academia, I worked in the UN Secretariat in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, the Department of Field Support, and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. I’ve also been a consultant for the Department of Peace Operations, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and the UN Development Programme.
Prior to joining the UN, I served as advisor on UN management and reform at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
Why subscribe?
All posts are free to read, but the ability to comment on posts is available only to paid subscribers.
Use of AI
I do not use AI in any of my writing.
I do, however, occasionally use ChatGPT to generate images for the title cards of Substack posts. The HIPPO mascot for this blog was created with GPT-4o.
