Experiencing Time and Space within the United Nations
| Published date | 01 December 2021 |
| Author | Leah R. Kimber,Lucile Maertens |
| Date | 01 December 2021 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13005 |
Experiencing Time and Space within the United
Nations
Leah R. Kimber
University of Geneva
Lucile Maertens
University of Lausanne
Abstract
Departing from an objective understanding of time and space, this article investigates time and space together as daily indi-
vidual and social experiences within the United Nations (UN) system. Focused on both staff members and civil society part-
ners, it explores how experiences of time and space affect the way the UN functions. Based on two case studies, it first shows
that time and space as they are experienced by individuals shape UN everyday practices pointing to a form of unlimited con-
nectedness among individuals and overlapping and delocalized temporalities. It then demonstrates that time and space con-
stitute socially constructed resources to maintain hierarchical relations: looking at temporal and spatial experiences gives
insight into power dynamics over decision-making within the UN. Overall these findings show that time and space are rele-
vant to capture overlooked dimensions in the study of the UN.
Policy Implications
•Be mindful of different ways time and space can be experienced: temporal and spatial opportunities are relative and differ
from one organization to another, influencing reform initiatives and decision-making.
•Increased collaboration can be fostered by considering different organizational working paces and spatial constraints
which affect how UN entities work individually and together.
•Various organizational calendars must be taken seriously to facilitate participation.
•Growing familiarity over time and across spaces among UN staff, member state delegates and other partners could facili-
tate or hamper negotiations and their outcomes.
Situating the United Nations (UN) action in time and space
implies presenting contextual elements and their potential
influence. It paints a picture of the external constraints
imposed onto the organization. In this article we shift the
focus by analyzing time and space as they are individually
and socially experienced within the UN. Contributing to
growing scholarship on everyday practices in international
organization (IO) studies, we show how the temporal and
spatial experiences of individuals involved in UN processes
shape the way the organization functions.
June 2011, International Environment House, Geneva: a
research assistant hired by the UN Environment Programme
(UNEP) is helping to prepare a report on the environment,
natural resources and peacekeeping operations. Data collec-
tion has been challenging and the drafts kept undisclosed.
The team leader shows much frustration toward their part-
ners in the departments of peacekeeping operations (DPKO)
and field support (DFS)
1
: they have been slow in answering
emails, not always cooperative and do not see the opportu-
nity of such a publication to push the environmental peace-
building agenda forward.
November 2012, UN Headquarters, New York City: a vol-
unteer has been appointed to work on peacekeeping and
the environment within a division shared between DPKO
and DFS. Her first task is to ‘translate’UNEP’s recommenda-
tions into feasible suggestions for peacekeepers in order to
regain ‘ownership’over a report dedicated to peacekeeping
missions but written by ‘outsiders’. The New York team is
frustrated with UNEP: UNEP is not realistic enough, does not
understand DPKO and DFS political and material constraints
and does not respect their specificpace.
Different thematic foci, distinct status within the UN sys-
tem, divergent agendas and contrasting organizational cul-
tures hamper the collaboration between these two UN
bodies. Yet observing both situations helps discern misun-
derstandings rooted in spatial and temporal considerations:
UN staff experience time differently in Geneva and New
York. UNEP in Geneva has more autonomy regarding its
schedule and the demands of its member states based in
Nairobi. DPKO and DFS in New York follow the rhythm
imposed by the Security Council and the daily pressure of
member state permanent representations.
©2021 The Authors. Global Policy published by Durham University and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Global Policy (2022) 12:Suppl.7 doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.13005
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use,
distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Global Policy Volume 12 . Supplement 7 . December 2021
14
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