Martin Kobler at PRIF

Group photo at PRIF: Xinyu Yuan, Head of the UNPAC Research Group, Martin Kobler and UNPAC researchers Frederik Schissler and Myriel Mathez (from left to right)

Former Diplomat Martin Kobler (2nd from left) with the UNPAC Research Group.

Lunch Talk by UNPAC Research Group on the UN80 Initiative

For more than 30 years, Martin Kobler served as a diplomat – including positions as head of the world's largest UN peace­keeping mission in the Demo­cratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the UN political missions in Iraq and Libya, and as Deputy Special Represen­tative of the UN Secretary-­General for the UN Mission in Afgha­nistan. 

During the lunch talk at PRIF, , he shared his assess­ment of the current challenges faced by the United Nations (UN) and the prospects for reform within the frame­work of the UN80 reform initiative. The dis­cussion was organized and moderated by PRIF's Research Group “United Nations Peacekeeping and Conflict Management” (UNPAC). 

In his presen­tation, Kobler called for a far­sighted UN and empha­sized the power and scope for action of leaders within the UN. Furthermore, he called for mea­sures to strengthen and recog­nize the role of member states from the Global South in the UN. 

In the ensuing discussion, PRIF staff asked questions and contex­tualized Kobler's insights into diplomatic practice against the backdrop of aca­demic debates. Xinyu Yuan, head of the UNPAC Research Group, concluded by empha­sizing the added value of regular exchanges with practi­tioners for academia. 

About Martin Kobler 

Martin Kobler worked for Ger­many and the UN in the Foreign Service until 2019 – today he part of initiatives like “Diplomats without Borders”. He is also the author of the book “Welten­beben” (“Worldquake”), in which he exa­mines Europe's role in an age in which the suppo­sedly ‘stronger’ powers are once again calling the shots. In November 2025, he was awar­ded the Dag Hammar­skjöld Medal of Honor by the DGVN for his com­mitment to the principles of the UN. Since 2020, he has also been a member of the PRIF Board of Trustees. 

About UNPAC 

The PRIF-Research Group “United Nations Peace­keeping and Conflict Manage­ment” (UNPAC) is investi­gating the United Nations' multi­faceted respon­ses to conflict. The group focuses on how the UN exer­cises influence and power through various types of mea­sures and how it responds to challen­ges to its insti­tutional credi­bility.