Because the U.N. so often fails, freedom-loving democracies often need to act in defense of their own strategic interests. To make that easier, we should form a respectable body of nations with clean human-rights records outside the formal U.N. structure to attack major human-rights violations.

It should set objective and tough standards for membership, including adherence to the rule of law, democratic elections and a clear commitment to upholding the dignity of human beings. Some may label this merely a Western club that excludes abusers from the table. But for now, that seems the only way to promote our principles of human rights and to avoid giving countries that abuse those rights legitimacy.

The world also needs a Global Free Trade Alliance. Any country willing to open up to trade and investment and maintain a secure rule of law with low levels of regulation could join. This would strengthen the world’s economy, promote peace and security, and act as an example of the power of free societies working and trading together.

Finally, the countries that fund the U.N. must demand a solid return on their investment.

The top 10 contributors to the United Nations pay 80 percent of its budget, while 128 countries combined contribute less than 1 percent. We shouldn’t be ashamed to use this leverage, since those opposed to reform aren’t ashamed to press their numerical advantage in votes to stop it. When the United States withheld parts of its contribution in the 1980s and ’90s, the U.N. engaged in real reform.

The secretariats and agencies at the United Nations are riddled with scandal and corruption. Kofi Annan couldn’t, or wouldn’t, make the necessary changes. The new leader must -- if he wants to make the U.N. relevant in the 21st century.