Representation in a Shifting World Order: Women Diplomats at the UN

The world has shifted from an era of globalization and cooperation into a phase of deep transformation, notably since Donald J. Trump’s second term. The resurgence of protectionist policies, unilateral actions, and withdrawals from treaties, coupled with a rise in populism and hypermasculine approaches in international relations, has significantly weakened the principles and effectiveness of the multilateral system. This paper investigates how these shifts, alongside a populist and anti-gender backlash, impact the agency and diplomatic roles of women permanent and deputy representatives at the United Nations. Women are often less likely to attain high-status roles, but may face a “glass cliff”—appointed to leadership during crises—which heightens the risk of failure and limits tenure. In light of the current multilateral crisis, we aim to understand the patterns of women’s diplomatic representation at the UN. Does the declining authority of international organizations or the urgency of the multilateral crisis lead to the appointment of more or fewer women to the UN? We examine regional and country-specific differences and compare patterns across the four main UN headquarters (New York, Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna). We also explore the influence of domestic leadership, specifically asking: Do countries with populist/right-wing leaders send fewer women, and do those with women presidents, prime ministers, or foreign ministers send more? Our analysis uses a comprehensive dataset of all women permanent and deputy permanent representative appointments to the four UN sites between 1995 and 2025, integrated with socioeconomic and government data. This is complemented by expert interviews (approx. 15) with women currently serving in these roles to explore their perspectives on their appointments within the rapidly changing global order.