What Nelson Mandela’s Legacy Can Teach Us Today

In the archives of human history, few figures stand as a more potent symbol of the relentless pursuit of justice and democracy than Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. His long walk was not a solitary one; it was sustained by the unwavering solidarity of a global community that believed in the dignity of every human being. This was not mere sympathy; it was active, coordinated, and powerful multilateral action. The international anti-apartheid movement, amplified through the United Nations’ platforms, demonstrated a fundamental truth: when nations unite around a common moral purpose, they can bend the arc of history toward justice. Today, that same spirit of collective action is not a relic of the past but an urgent necessity for our shared future. The challenges we face—from climate catastrophe and pandemics to rising authoritarianism and entrenched inequality—are borderless. No single nation, however powerful, can confront them alone. This is why a reinvigorated commitment to effective multilateralism, with a strong and responsive United Nations at its core, is the only viable path forward. It is the essential framework through which we can collectively prioritize and advance the twin pillars of democracy and justice globally. Therefore, as the 80th U.N. General Assembly kicked off earlier this month, we absolutely must not give up on or ruin what has been accomplished since the international organization was founded in the aftermath of world war. A reformed multilateral system that takes Africa seriously is a must. The next while needs to focus on deep reform and not nationalism and nativism. This must involve much stronger mechanisms for dealing with violations of international law, from Gaza to Sudan and Ukraine and beyond, that can act quicker to stop human suffering and bring justice. Read More: The Tragedy Unfolding in Gaza Read More: Sudan’s Crisis in the Shadows Multilateralism provides the stage for dialogue, the tools for consensus-building, and the mechanisms for holding power to account. These are not abstract ideals but practical blueprints for building more just, democratic, and equitable societies. They provide a shared compass, guiding diverse nations toward a common horizon of peace and prosperity. We have already seen both the promise and the limits of this system. Global cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly knowledge and resources can be mobilized yet also exposed deep inequities in access. Likewise, the inability to prevent atrocities in places like Sudan and Gaza underscores the urgent need for a system that acts with greater fairness and courage. What many may not know is while we all refer to President Mandela’s first name as “Nelson,” the name that he was actually given at birth was “Rolihlahla.” In isiXhosa, which was Mandela’s mother tongue and is one of the official languages of South Africa, the colloquial meaning of Rolihlahla is “troublemaker.” Mandela was a troublemaker. The kind of good troublemaker that we need more of in the world today and the kind that we will continue to need well into the future. What kind of world would he be prepared to make good trouble for? A world where justice does not kneel to the rich and powerful; where our collective upliftment takes precedence over individual privilege; where the benefits and burdens of our society are equitably shared; where our privilege and personal biases do not sway us from being just; and where our like or dislike of someone does not hinder us from doing what is right in relation to them.  The legacy of Nelson Mandela teaches us that justice is not a zero-sum game. The advancement of democracy and human rights anywhere strengthens stability and prosperity everywhere. Let us choose, once more, to walk that path together.