Reform Debates

Picture Credit:
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.

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