Associated Press/Osamu Honda |
Fierce debates arise over the Council's political archetecture and many states call for thoroughgoing reform to bring the Council into the 21st Century. But not all critics favor the same reform agenda. Some powerful nations would like to join the ranks of the privileged "permanent members," while others favor the abolition of permanent membership altogether. The veto attracts special venom (and a spirited defense by those who enjoy the privilege). Reformers have a large agenda, including membership, accountability and working methods. This section follows the debates and pulls together unique information on Council reform, adressing all major reform questions and posting statements from a wide variety of perspectives.
Theses Towards a Democratic Reform of the UN Security Council (July 13, 2005)
Security Council Reform
Though many states favor reform of the Council, change in this conservative
body moves very slowly. The five permanent members prefer a status quo
that favors them, with only cosmetic changes. In 1965, Council membership
expended from 11 to 15 members, but few find the body representative or
accountable. This section assembles extensive information about Council
reform, adressing issues of transparency
and working methods, and membership
expansion and representation.
The Veto
The five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russia, United
Kingdom, and United States) enjoy the privilege of veto power. This power has
been intensely controversial since the drafting of the UN Charter in 1945. The
United States and Russia would probably not have accepted the creation of the
United Nations without the veto privilege. Fifty years later, the debate on the
existence and use of the veto continues, reinvigorated by many cases of veto-threat
as well as actual veto use. Recent cases include the ICC
and Iraq. This page follows the issue,
and provides data and a comprehensive
list of all the vetoes cast and the subjects
vetoed in the Security Council since 1945.
More Information on the Security Council