Readers pick historical figures they think the world needs now — and why

# What readers suggested

# Major names and the reasons readers gave

• Mikhail Gorbachev. Readers said he recognised when the Cold War had to end and managed a peaceful unwinding. Comments point to his capacity to avoid escalation between nuclear-armed rivals.

• Deganawida (The Great Peacemaker). This Iroquois leader is praised for uniting five tribes under a law of peace and persuading warriors to bury their weapons — an example cited for negotiating stable peace among warring parties.

• Nelson Mandela. His international respect and moral authority are offered as qualities that would make the world listen and act.

• Michael Collins. Presented as a leader who combined tough, resourceful military leadership with realistic political compromise.

• Jacinda Ardern. Named as a contemporary leader some readers would welcome back to public office.

• David Attenborough. Suggested for his deep respect for living things and his ability to shape public consciousness about nature and the climate.

• Mark Carney. Offered as a present-day figure with moral courage and international vision, already influencing global financial and climate conversations.

• Theodore Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth I, Ernest Shackleton, Jimmy Carter and Jesus Christ also appeared in replies, each invoked for specific traits: reform and anti-corruption (Roosevelt), national steadiness (Elizabeth I), putting people before goals (Shackleton), principled governance and human rights work (Carter), and moral leadership (Jesus, as cited by one reader).

# Institutional answers: strengthen the UN

One reader argued for empowering the United Nations: give it full control to set targets, judge disputes, redistribute wealth, and protect vulnerable people, removing vetoes and granting a full mandate. That response frames the problem as institutional rather than individual.

# A strong counterpoint: no single historical leader

Some replies rejected the premise entirely. They argued the current challenges — climate emergency, concentrated technological power, billionaire influence — are unprecedented. The solution, they wrote, is a living leader already active today, likely an activist who is not a politician by trade but who can cut through bureaucracies and deliver actionable results.

# Themes across responses

• Moral authority: names like Mandela and Attenborough were suggested because they command respect across borders.

• Pragmatism and sacrifice: Shackleton and Collins were cited for putting people first and making hard compromises.

• Institutional change: at least one reader focused on giving an institution like the UN real power rather than elevating a single personality.

# What readers collectively want

The thread shows readers are not uniform in their prescriptions, but they converge on practical outcomes: leaders who can stop wars, build credible international cooperation, act for future generations on climate and technology, and prioritize people over prestige. Several readers said those leaders already exist today and should be noticed rather than sought in history.