JIM WURST

Novelist, historian, and journalist.

Jim Wurst

is an author, speechwriter, journalist, and scriptwriter. As a journalist based at the United Nations, he wrote about international affairs including climate change, international law, peacekeeping, and arms control. He reported on peacekeeping missions in Namibia and Mozambique during the 1990s. Jim was a UN correspondent of the National Journal Group and Inter Press Service. His work has been published by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, World Policy Journal, Arms Control Today, In These Times, and A Global Agenda.


He is the author of The UN Association–USA: A Little Known History of Advocacy and Action (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2016). Jim has also worked as an expert consultant on arms control issues including land mines, nuclear weapons, and the arms trade.

Most recently, he was a speechwriter for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, based in Bonn, Germany.

Early Career:

  • Volunteer with the Community of the Peace People; Belfast, Northern Ireland (1977-78)
  • Editor of Disarmament Campaigns, a magazine chronicling the international anti-nuclear movement; Antwerp, Belgium/the Hague, the Netherlands (1979-1984)
  • Consultant for Inter Press Service, news service focusing on the Global South; Rome, Italy (1986)

As a Journalist and analyst based at the United Nations (1987-2016):

  • Editor, Disarmament Times (1987-1997)
  • Reported on UN peacekeeping operations in Namibia (1990) and Mozambique (1994, 1997)
  • Analyst, Council on Economic Priorities (1996 -1999)
  • Analyst, The Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress (1996-1999)
  • Program Director, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (1997-1999)
  • Correspondent, Inter Press Service UN Bureau (1999-2002)
  • UN Correspondent for two National Journal Group news wire services – UN Wire and the Global Security Newswire (2002-2005)
  • Program Director, Global Security Institute/Middle Powers Initiative (2005-2013)
  • Show writer/producer, South-South Awards (2011-2015)
  • Freelance journalism on international politics appeared in publications including The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, World Policy Journal, Arms Control Today, In These Times, and A Global Agenda.

Recent Work:

  • Author, The UN Association-USA: A Little Known History of Advocacy and Action (2016)
  • Author, Three Degrees (2017) reprinted in 2020 as Book 1 of the Tempestas Series
  • Speechwriter for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2018-2020
  • Speechwriter for “Artists in Presidents,” an update of FDR’s “fireside chats” with a diverse range of artists addressing current issues (UCLA), 2020
  • Author, The Duty of Madness (pending 2021), Book 2 of the Tempestas Series

Namibia, 1990

Adirondack Mountains, 1991

United Nations, 2005