U Thant: Peacemaker

About this episode

This episode explores the life and legacy of U Thant, focusing on his diplomatic efforts during the Cold War.

Our final episode of the year invites listeners into the life and legacy of U Thant, the longest‑serving Secretary‑General of the United Nations and a quiet architect of peace during some of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War. Drawing on the perspective of historian Thant Myint‑U, his grandson, the conversation revisits U Thant’s role in crises such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Congo, showing how his calm, principled diplomacy helped steer the world away from catastrophe. Grounded in Buddhist ethics and a deep belief in multilateral cooperation, U Thant’s leadership connected decolonization, social justice, and environmental concern long before these agendas were widely recognized on the global stage. Through archival stories and family memories, the episode explores how his example can inform efforts today to organize peace and renew trust in international institutions, as we reimagine the UN’s potential in a fractured world. Resources: Ask a Librarian! Myint-U, T. (2025). Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World. W. W. Norton & Company. https://www.thantmyintu.com/peacemaker Where to listen to this episode Apple podcasts…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Smith

Guest: Thant Myint-U

Topics covered

• U Thant
• peacekeeping
• Cold War
• diplomacy
• multilateral cooperation
• decolonization
• social justice

Keywords

• U Thant
• Thant Myint-U
• Cold War
• diplomacy
• peace
• United Nations
• social justice
• decolonization

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United Nations, W. W. Norton & Company

Books & works: Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World

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