Eighty years after its Constitution came into force, assess UNESCO's relevance in an era of contested multilateralism.

UNESCO's Constitution was signed in London on 16 November 1945 and entered into force on 4 November 1946 [1]. It set up a body to build peace through education, science and culture. Eighty years on, great powers are rivals and some states are leaving multilateral bodies. UNESCO is still relevant, but as a convenor and norm-setter, not an enforcer.

Why UNESCO remains relevant

• Lasting norms: Egypt and Sudan asked for help with the Nubian Campaign. Through 40 technical missions, it saved 22 monuments and complexes and inspired the 1972 World Heritage Convention [4]. India's World Heritage Sites are inscribed under this standing framework.
• Shared costs: The Abu Simbel rescue was funded by a "now or never" appeal for voluntary contributions [5]. National heritage became a global responsibility.
• Science diplomacy: The CERN Convention was signed in 1953 under UNESCO's auspices [6]. UNESCO brought governments together and then handed the project over. This low-cost model still works when rivalry blocks bigger deals.
• Voice for the Global South: Each Member State has one vote in the General Conference [1]. This lets developing countries like India shape norms on heritage and education.

Limits exposed by contested multilateralism

• Politics and exits: The US announced its withdrawal in July 2025, effective December 2026, citing the admission of Palestine [2].
• Weak finances: The Director-General said UNESCO had prepared for the loss [3]. Still, relying on a few big donors makes it fragile.
• No enforcement: The Nubian rescue began only after the host states asked [4]. UNESCO persuades; it cannot punish.
• Limited solutions: At Aswan, the dam went ahead and the monuments were moved [4]. Living landscapes and sacred sites cannot be moved, which matters for India's dam debates.

Way forward

• Spread funding across more contributors so no single donor has leverage.
• Keep heritage decisions expert-led to limit politicisation.
• Move into new areas such as AI ethics, digital heritage and climate-threatened sites.

UNESCO's eighty-year record shows that its value lies in the rules and institutions it sets in motion, such as the 1972 Convention and CERN, not in coercion. Reforming its funding and governance can keep this convening power relevant. For India, an active role advances SDG 4 (education) and SDG target 11.4 (heritage protection), and the Preamble's vision of building peace "in the minds of men".