Ban Ki-moon's second term as U.N. secretary general ends Dec. 31, 2016. To many, his choice in 2006 validated the soft bigotry of low expectations with respect to the world organization.
Considering the structural constraints within which he must function, Ban's record is not all that bad. He has led from the front on issues like promoting more women to senior positions, climate change, the responsibility to protect, and a development agenda to follow the Millennium Development Goals that expire this year.
The office of secretary general combines the role of politician, diplomat and public sector CEO. The secretary general must have integrity and independence to be able to set the collective interest of the United Nations above the partisan interests of member states; provide managerial ability and negotiating skill while establishing rapport with a global audience; know when to take the initiative to force an issue, when reticence is welcome, when courage is required, when discretion is advised, and when commitment to the U.N. vision must be balanced by a sense of proportion and humor; and a strong sense of balancing the demands and expectations of the organization against the limits of the possible.