United Nations Security Council

Reform
Michael Teng
EDGE Autumn 200
!rofessor "ruce #usignan
Chief responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security lies with the Security
Council. It is therefore essential to its legitimacy that its membership reflect the state of the
world.
$ %rench !resident Chirac&s address to the United Nations General Assem'ly(
Objective
The focus of this )a)er is on the United Nations Security Council reform issue( *t +ill
start 'y gi,ing some history on the United Nations charter and the Security Council( This
'ac-ground +ill set u) a discussion on the )ast and )resent )ro)osals to reform the Security
Council( * +ill also offer analysis on the feasi'ility of these reform )ro)osals( * +ill then
discuss +hat the -ey countries thin- a'out Security Council reform(
Background
United Nations Background
The United Nations +as 'orn out of the turmoil of t+o de,astating +orld +ars( *t +as
esta'lished in the ho)es that a strong international organi.ation could foster enough
coo)eration 'et+een nations in order to )re,ent future conflicts( *n /0123 re)resentati,es
from 20 countries met in San %rancisco to dra+ u) the United Nations Charter( Those
delegates deli'erated on the )ro)osals +or-ed out 'y the re)resentati,es of China3 the So,iet
Union3 the United 4ingdom and the United States at Dum'arton 5a-s3 United States in
August and 5cto'er of /011( The Charter +as signed on 6une3 27 /012 'y the re)resentati,es
of the 20 countries( !oland3 +hich +as not re)resented at the Conference3 signed it later and
'ecame one of the original 2/ Mem'er States(
/
Since then the United Nations has gro+n
significantly( The United Nations General Assem'ly no+ consists of /0/ Mem'er States(
2
The )redecessor of the United Nations +as the ill8fated #eague of Nations3 +hich +as
concei,ed under similar circumstances after 9orld 9ar *( The #eague of Nations ceased its
acti,ities after failing to )re,ent 9orld 9ar **(
%ifty8eight years after the signing of the Charter3 the +orld has changed dramatically(
*ts uni,ersal character and com)rehensi,eness ma-e the United Nations a uni:ue and
indis)ensa'le forum for go,ernments to +or- together to address glo'al issues( At the same
time3 there remains a large ga) 'et+een as)iration and real accom)lishment( There ha,e 'een
many successes and many failures( The United Nations is a 'ureaucracy that struggles $
understanda'ly $ in its attem)t to 'ring together /0/ countries( *t must come at no sur)rise3
therefore3 that a consensus cannot al+ays 'e reached +ith so many different com)eting
,oices(
Security Council Background
The Security Council of the United Nations has the )rimary res)onsi'ility under the
United Nations Charter for the maintenance of international )eace and security( Under the
Charter3 all Mem'ers of the United Nations agree to acce)t and carry out the decisions of the
Security Council( 9hile other )arts of the United Nations ma-e recommendations to ,arious
States3 the Council has the )o+er to ma-e decisions that Mem'er States are o'liged to o'ey(
This gi,es the Security Council a ,ery im)ortant and )o+erful )osition in the United Nations
and in the +orld(
During the first forty8fi,e years of its e;istence3 the Council +as )araly.ed 'y the
Cold 9ar3 +hich )olari.ed many of the )ermanent Security Council mem'ers( During this
time3 +orld )o+er +as concentrated in the United States and the So,iet Union3 'ut there
+ere a fe+ note+orthy Council actions( These include the 6une /020 call for United Nations
mem'ers to hel) South 4oreans $ the So,iet Union +as not )resent at the ,ote(
2
After the

tha+ing of the international )olitical climate3 ho+e,er3 the Security Council has 'een ,ery
acti,e(
The Security Council is currently made u) of /2 United Nation Mem'er States( %i,e
of the mem'ers +ere designated )ermanent mem'ers in the original charter( These fi,e
countries are China3 %rance3 Russia3 the United 4ingdom3 and the United States( These
)ermanent mem'ers ha,e the )o+er of ,eto( This ,eto )o+er has )ro,ed to 'e e;tremely
contro,ersial in reform de'ates( The ,eto is cast much less than during the Cold 9ar3 'ut it is
still ,ery much in use as a threat that 'loc-s action(
The remaining ten mem'ers of the Council are elected 'y the General Assem'ly to
t+o8year non8rene+a'le terms( These seats are allotted regionally so that there is
re)resentation in all the ma<or +orld regions $ t+o to Asia3 t+o to #atin America3 t+o to
9estern Euro)e3 one to Eastern Euro)e3 and three to Africa(
Mem'ershi) of Security Council in 200
Country Membership Term ends
%rance !ermanent Mem'er
Germany / Decem'er 2001
Guinea / Decem'er 200
Me;ico / Decem'er 200
!a-istan / Decem'er 2001
Russian %ederation !ermanent Mem'er
S)ain / Decem'er 2001
Syrian Ara' Re)u'lic / Decem'er 200
United 4ingdom !ermanent Mem'er
United States !ermanent Mem'er
Angola / Decem'er 2001
"ulgaria / Decem'er 200
Cameroon / Decem'er 200
China !ermanent Mem'er
Chile / Decem'er 2001
htt)=>>+++(un(org>Docs>sc>unsc?mem'ers(html
1
The Security Council&s main res)onsi'ility is )eace and security( *n this realm it
)erforms three ma<or functions= mediation3 )eace-ee)ing3 and enforcement( Acting under
Cha)ter @*

of the UN Charter3 the Security Council assists in the )eaceful settlement of

dis)utes 'y mediating conflicts and negotiating settlements( *t also esta'lishes and o,ersees
UN )eace8-ee)ing forces( After the Cold 9ar +hen there +as greater consensus among the
mem'ers3 the Security Council esta'lished numerous )eace-ee)ing o)erations( *n the mid8
/000&s there +ere o,er A03000 )eace-ee)ers de)loyed
1
( Under Cha)ter @** of the UN
Charter3 the Security Council can ta-e enforcement measures against offending States or
entities(
2
%or e;am)le3 the Security Council has im)osed economic sanctions against
countries such as *ra:( Under Article 12 of the Charter3 the Security Council also can use
military force to )romote )eace and security(
7

Mem'er States not on the Coucil are often unsatisfied +ith the results of Security
Council o)erations( These o)erations are often seen as selfishly moti,ated 'y the )o+erful
states ta-ing )art3 and not sufficiently reflecting the +ill of the General Assem'ly as a +hole(
%or e;am)le3 the recent and ongoing +ar in *ra: instigated 'y the United States came +ith no
United Nations mandate and little international consensus(
Some Security Council Actions
The a+a-ening of the Security Council may 'e dated :uite accurately to the *ran8*ra:
+ar +hen the Security Council&s decision to im)ose economic )enalties on *ran for
continuing the +ar( This +as in /0BA8/0BB( The threat of sanctions hel)ed force Ayatollah
4homeini to finally end the +ar( "y the early /000&s the Council had 'ecome effecti,e for
mo'ili.ing the +orld community to re)el aggression and maintain )eace(
A
The successes did
not3 ho+e,er3 come +ithout failures(
Since /0123 the Security Council has not 'een a'le to sto) the deaths of o,er 0
million )eo)le in armed conflict including genocide in R+anda3 +ars in Angola3 central
2
Africa3 Sudan and else+here
B
(

The Security Council also did nothing to )re,ent "ritain from
going to +ar to claim the %al-land *slands(
0
Also3 the most )o+erful mem'ers of the Security
Council3 charged +ith )romoting )eace3 are$ ironically enough 8 the +orld&s 'iggest arms
traders( %or E;am)le3 the United States continues to arm *srael and the Security Council does
nothing(
The e!orm Movement
*n this section3 * +ill first loo- at +hat is currently +rong +ith the Security Council
and then * +ill discuss )ossi'le solutions(
"ra# !iasco and the bypassing o! the Security Council $ Catalyst !or change%
The entire *ra: crisis has 'een a de)ressing )eriod for the United Nations( As Chirac
said in front of the UN General Assem'ly3 Cthe +ar3 em'ar-ed on +ithout Security Council
a))ro,al3 has undermined the multilateral system(D
/0
Ea,ing failed to 'ully the Security
Council into su))orting the *ra: in,asion3 !resident "ush +ent ahead and attac-ed +ithout a
mandate( After occu)ying *ra:3 !resident "ush again )ushed to attain a United Nations
mandate for the American8led coalition ho)ing that this +ould encourage other countries to
)ro,ide financial aid and soldiers( The United States sought assistance 'ut refused to gi,e u)
leadershi) to the United Nations( E,en +ith a United Nations mandate3 ho+e,er3 its
)ercei,ed lac- of legitimacy ensures that a mandate +ill not ha,e a large effect(
4ofi Annan3 the United Nations Secretary General3 recogni.ed that fla+s in the
Security Council had 'een 'rought to light 'y the )rotracted de'ate o,er the *ra: +ar3 'ut he
+as o)timistic a'out the future( Mr( Annan commented that Cin a +ay3 *ra: has more or less
dri,en home to leaders around the +orld that the United Nations is a )recious instrument3 the
United Nations is im)ortantFThere are lots of issues that no one country3 no matter ho+
7
)o+erful3 can deal +ith alone(D
//
The United States in its narro+ minded unilateralism needs
to +or- +ithin the United Nations frame+or- in order to 'e effecti,e( Not only can the
United States then share the financial 'urden 'ut it can also garner international credi'ility
and legitimacy(
Annan stressed that 'ecause the United Nations +as no longer in,ol,ed in the hunt
for +ea)ons of mass destruction in *ra:3 the search +ould continue to lac- credi'ility( C*
-no+ that +e ha,e the "ritish and American scientists loo-ing for +ea)ons in *ra:( They
may find them3 they may not find them( "ut e,en if they find them +ould they 'e
credi'leGD
/2
Chances are +e can only s)eculate on this :uestion )osed 'y Anna since so far
the United States& Ccoalition of the +illingD has yet to turn u) any 9MDs( %rench !resident
Chirac reiterated Annan&s )oint +hen he addressed the General Assem'ly( Ee said3
Cmultilateralism is the -ey3 for it ensures the )artici)ation of all in the management of +orld
affairs( *t is a guarantee of legitimacy and democracy3 es)ecially in matters regarding the use
of force or laying do+n HofI uni,ersal norms(D
/

Security Council epresentation "mbalance
9ashington +anted the international community ,ia the United Nations Security
Council to ta-e a tougher line on *ra:( The council3 ho+e,er3 is far from re)resentati,e of the
international community( Decisions really come do+n to fi,e countries meeting 'ehind
closed doors( This same grou) of )ermanent3 ,eto8'earing mem'ers has sha)ed nearly e,ery
ma<or international )eace and security decision since 9orld 9ar **( Currently3 four out of
fi,e ,eto8'earing mem'ers are industriali.ed countries and the fifth3 China3 is ra)idly
a))roaching industriali.ed status( Many in the rest of the +orld seethe at their e;clusion from
this elite grou)( Africa3 #atin America3 and the *slamic +orld3 for e;am)le3 ha,e no
)ermanent ,oice on the council( 9ithout a ,oice3 it is understanda'le +hy many countries are
A
un+illing to send troo)s or aid +hene,er the Security Council demands it( This im'alance3
highlighted 'y the *ra: +ar3 has made Security Council reform a hot to)ic of de'ate(
e!orm &istory
Any change in the mem'ershi) of the Security Council re:uires a t+o8thirds ,ote
from the General Assem'ly3 +hich includes all the )ermanent mem'ers( The only change so
far to the Security Council +as in /072( At that time3 non8)ermanent mem'ershi) +as
enlarged from si; to its )resent ten(
*t is generally agreed that something still needs to change( E,en though e,eryone
seems to agree on the fundamental idea of reform3 efforts ha,e 'een stymied for o,er a
decade( Most reform )ro)osals relate to the +or-3 si.e3 and com)osition of the Security
Council( Concerning si.e and com)osition3 the General Assem'ly at the )rom)ting of
General Secretary 4ofi Annan ado)ted resolution 1B>27 in /00(
/1
This esta'lished the 5)en8
ended 9or-ing Grou) to consider all the issue of Security Council mem'ershi) reform(( %or
a decade no+3 di)lomats and committees ha,e 'een +or-ing on Security Council reform(
Most of the discussion has re,ol,ed around technicalities such as ho+ much should it 'e
e;)anded3 should they 'e )ermanent mem'ers3 and +hether they should ha,e ,etoes or
+hether ,etoes should 'e a'olished altogether(
*n /00A3 there +as a strong )ush to get Germany and 6a)an )ermanent Security
Council seats( The initiati,e faced many hurdles that e,entually derailed the effort( Many
delegations o))osed any more )ermanent mem'ers since they +ould create more ar'itrary
distinctions 'et+een mem'er states( 5ther delegations felt it +as unfair to only add Germany
and 6a)an since it +ould ele,ate yet another Euro)ean state and ma-e the council e,en more
unre)resentati,e of the +orld&s )eo)le(
/2
*taly intensely o))osed the Germany86a)an
initiati,e and )ushed for its o+n *talian !ro)osal( This )ro)osal re<ected further )ermanent
B
mem'ers in fa,or of a s)ecial class of intermediate states that +ould 'e elected )eriodically
'y the General Assem'ly and +ould rotate in and out of Security Council seats(
Security Council e!orm "dea' ()pansion o! Security Council
htt)=>>+++(mofa(go(<)>)olicy>un>reform>role2/(html
Many argue for e;)ansion3 if only to reflect the steady rise in mem'ershi) in the
United Nations( The General Assem'ly has gro+n from 2/ to /0/J The num'er of )ermanent
mem'ers3 ho+e,er3 has remained the same( Most reform )ro)osals suggest e;)anding the
council from fi,e to ten )ermanent mem'ers3 and elected mem'ers from ten to fourteen(
"eyond that there is little agreement( 9hat should the ne+ geogra)hic com)osition 'eG
9hich ne+ mem'ers should 'e a+arded )ermanent seatsG Should states 'e elected 'y
regional grou)ingsG
C*f you add another fi,e )ermanent mem'ers3 all of them casting ,etoes3 forget a'out
anything 'eing accom)lished3D says 6ames !aul3 e;ecuti,e director of the Glo'al !olicy
%orum( C*t&s not <ust casting a ,eto3 'ut the threat of casting a ,eto that -ee)s the +hole issue
off the agenda( A lot of council mem'ers +anted to act regarding Chechnya3 'ut the Russians
+ouldn&t e,en allo+ any discussion3 much less action(D
/7

0
The countries that +ill most li-ely recei,e a )ermanent seat on the Security Council if
it e,er ha))ens +ould 'e Germany3 6a)an3 *ndia3 and "ra.il( #ater in this )a)er * +ill discuss
in further detail the )osition of indi,idual countries(
Security Council e!orm "dea' *iving or taking a+ay the ,eto
Eo+ did the )ermanent fi,e secure these )ri,ileges in the first )laceG After 9orld
9ar **3 the ,ictors too- another crac- at forming an international 'ody to 'ring sta'ility to the
glo'e( Eo)ing to do 'etter than the ill8fated #eague of Nations3 the ,ictors anointed
themsel,es res)onsi'le for )ro,iding the money and muscle to Cmaintain international )eace
and security(D 5thers sa+ them as sim)ly )rotecting their o+n interests3 'ut decided that this
+as a small )rice to )ay if it meant )eaceful coe;istence( The Cold 9ar unfolded soon after
and )olari.ed the glo'e and effecti,ely fro.e the Security Council( After the fall of the "erlin
9all3 this inacti,ity changed( There +as an out'rea- of ethnic3 tri'al3 and religious conflict
across the glo'e +hich s)urred Security Council acti,ism in 'oth )eace-ee)ing missions and
)uniti,e sanctions( At that )oint3 the rest of the +orld3 confronted +ith an acti,e and
)o+erful Security Council 'egan to :uestion the +isdom of the ,eto(
Use of the ,eto after the Cold 9ar has dro))ed off dramatically 'ut the statistics 'elie
the true )o+er of the right to ,eto( The mere threat of the ,eto has )re,ented many actions or
tal-s to e,er get under +ay( %or e;am)le3 the Security Council ne,er acted in Chechnya since
it +as assured that Russia +ould ,eto any measure( %ollo+ing is a gra)h that sho+s ho+
many times each of the !ermanent %i,e countries ha,e used this )o+er( Also included is a
chart sho+ing the su'<ects of recent ,eto issues(
/0
@eto Use in the UN Security Council
Gra)h )re)ared 'y "en<amin Eolt3 Se)tem'er3 /000 U)dated 'y Gi<i Gya

Su'<ects of UN Security Council @etoes
Source= data from the UN and Sydney D( "ailey and Sam Da+s CThe )rocedure of the UN Security Council3D

rd
Edition3 Clarendon !ress3 5;ford3 /00B
-ear .ate o! ,ote
,etoing Member
State
,ote
/yes0veto0 no or
abstain1
Subject
2334 5cto'er /1 USA /08/81 on the security +all 'uilt 'y *srael in the 9est "an-(
Se)tem'er /7 USA //8/8
on the *sraeli decision to Kremo,eK !alestinian
Authority leader Asser Arafat(
2332 Decem'er 20 USA /28/82
on the *sraeli -illings of se,eral UN em)loyees and
the destruction of the 9orld %ood !rogram
L9%!M +arehouse
6une 0 USA /8/8/
on the rene+al of the UN )eace-ee)ing mission in "osnia
and the immunity of US )eace-ee)ers from *CC
<urisdiction
2335 Decem'er /1 USA /28/82
on the +ithdra+al of *sraeli forces from !alestinian8
controlled land and condemning acts of terror against
ci,ilians
March 2A USA 08/81
on esta'lishing a UN o'ser,er force to )rotect !alestinian
ci,ilians
Lre)ort of Council meeting SC>A010M
2333 no ,etoes
//
5666 %e'ruary 22 China /8/8/
on the e;tension of UN!REDE! in the Re)u'lic of
Macedonia
5667 no ,etoes
5668 March 2/ USA /8/8/
Demanding *sraelNs immediate cessation of
construction at 6a'al A'u Ghneim
March A USA /18/80
Calling u)on *srael to refrain from East 6erusalem
settlement acti,ities
6anuary /0 China /18/80
Authori.ation for /22 o'ser,ers for the )ur)ose of
,erification of the ceasefire in Guatemala
9hile in recent years the )ermanent mem'ers ha,e sho+n restraint in using the
,eto3 this guarantees nothing of the future( Moreo,er3 the sim)le threat to use the ,eto has
'een sho+n to strongly effect the final outcome of Security Council de'ates( The )osition of
"elgium&s Minister for %oreign Affairs3 Eri- Deryc-e is that Cthe right to ,eto is incom)ati'le
+ith the general interest(D
/A
Many countries feel the same(
Security Council e!orm "dea' More Transparency
The Security Council is an e;clusi,e clu' and acts the )art( 5ftentimes their
discussions are 'ac-8door closed tal-s( This )ro'lem is already 'eing addressed 'y measures
that +ould enhance the communication 'et+een the Council and the General Assem'ly(
There is really no argument against maintaining3 im)ro,ing3 and formali.ing these measures(
Some of these measures include= regular meetings 'et+een the Security Council and the
General Assem'ly3 'riefings on the +or- of the Security Council3 more o)en meetings of the
Council3 and trans)arency of the +or- of sanctions committees( These efforts +ill go a long
+ay to 'ringing the Security Council and the General Assem'ly closer together(
Security Council e!orm' .issolution
/2
5ne 'old )ro)osal +ould forget a'out e;)ansion of the Security Council and <ust
eliminate all )ermanent mem'ershi) and create a council of elected re)resentati,es from
different regional areas( Those ad,ocating this a))roach )oint out that )ermanent mem'ers
are li-e )residents for life( The )ro'lem +ith this drastic )ro)osal is its unfeasi'ility( Any
)ro)osal that does )ass +ould ha,e to ha,e the su))ort of the )o+erful ,eto8'earing
countries( A more )ragmatic suggestion +ould 'e to add fi,e )ermanent Security Council
mem'ers 'ut +ithout ,eto )o+ers( This idea is 'ased on 'asic 2/
st
century )olitical reality
and not on any ideal conce)t of e:uality or fairness( The result of adding more countries
+ould increase glo'al re)resentation and there'y 'olster its credi'ility(
9erspective o! the 9layers
* ha,e already gi,en an o,er,ie+ of the United Nations and Security Council( *
ha,e also discussed +hy reform is needed and +hat some )ossi'le reforms are( This section
+ill no+ discuss the ,arious )ositions that different ma<or countries ha,e ta-en in the reform
de'ates( The countries discussed +ill include the current !ermanent Mem'ers and commonly
discussed candidates for e;)ansion(
4ee) in mind that changes in the United Nations Charter re:uires the ,ote of t+o8
thirds of the General Assem'ly( 5',iously3 the su))ort of the ,eto8'earing mem'ers is
)articularly im)ortant since they carry a lot of +eight and influence(
The 9ermanent :ive' China
*t is in China&s interest not to ma-e any drastic changes )ro'a'ly 'ecause it is
already a ,eto8'earing Security Council mem'er( *n an official statement to the United
Nations 9or-ing Grou) on Security Council of Reform in /00B3 Am'assador Shen Goufang
crystalli.ed the )osition of China( %irst3 on the to)ic of the ,eto Goufang said that the ,eto
/
C+as formed on the 'asis of lessons dra+n from the e;)erience of the #eague of Nations( *ts
e;istence is a historical necessity as +ell as an o'<ecti,e reality( Therefore3 in our ,ie+3 the
mechanism of ,eto has 'oth historical and )ractical rationality(D
/B

Second3 Goufang discussed +hat reforms +ould 'e acce)ta'le and effecti,e( Ee
o)ts for more democratic and inclusi,e +or-ing methods rather than more drastic e;)ansion
)lans( *n essence3 Goufang argues for more trans)arency 'y further cementing Cthe Council&s
relationshi) +ith the General Assem'ly and the ,ast num'er of Mem'er StatesFso that
decisions and actions ta-en 'y the Council +ill 'e a'le to reflect the +ill of the
o,er+helming ma<ority of Mem'er States(D Referring again in the same statement to the
,eto3 Goufang says that instead of losing ,eto )o+er3 C!ermanent Mem'ers of the Security
Council should e;ercise cautionD +hen thin-ing of using the ,eto(
The 9ermanent :ive' :rance
#ess than three months ago3 %rench !resident Chirac made a 'old statement in
su))ort of Security Council e;)ansion( The main moti,ation cited +as strengthening the
Security Council so that it +ould carry more international legitimacy( Chirac also )ointed out
that since the ince)tion of the Security Council Cthere are countries that +ere un-no+n that
ha,e 'ecome ,ery im)ortant for )olitical reasons3 demogra)hic reasons3 HandI economic
reasons(D
/0
Chirac called s)ecifically for the addition of Germany and 6a)an $ t+o countries
often mentioned for inclusion( Chirac also mentioned that he could see Asian3 African3 and
#atin American countries gaining seats as +ell( Ee singled out *ndia as a )ossi'le candidate
saying Cit&s ,ery hard to imagine ho+ one could e;clude *ndia from the )ossi'ility of ha,ing
a )ermanent seat in Security Council gi,en its characteristics(D
20
5n the su'<ect of the ,eto3 %rance is un+illing to gi,e u) its right and it is unclear
a'out +hether it +ould 'e +illing to gi,e ne+ !ermanent Mem'ers the ,eto )o+er(
The 9ermanent :ive' United ;ingdom
/1
"ritain has long 'een consistent in its su))ort for an e;)anded Security Council(
Ro'in Coo-3 Secretary of State for %oreign and Common+ealth Affairs3 su))orted e;)ansion
in a statement to the General Assem'ly in /00A( Ee argued that
Cthe Security Council must mo,e on if it is not to lose its legitimacy( 6a)an
and Germany should 'e included in an e;)anded )ermanent mem'ershi)3
and there should 'e a ne+ 'alance 'et+een de,elo)ed and de,elo)ing
countries in a moderni.ed Security Council( 9e are all agreed on the need
for changeO +e ha,e 'een discussing it for four years( *t is time that +e
agreed that a )ro)osal for change +hich has the 'ac-ing of the ,ast ma<ority
of Mem'ers is 'etter than a status :uo +hich has the 'ac-ing of none(D
2/
%i,e years after this statement a )ro)osal for change still has not made it through
the General Assem'ly( Along +ith Germany and 6a)an3 in early 2002 "ritain&s "lair also
assured *ndia that "ritain su))orted *ndia&s :uest for a )ermanent seat(
The 9ermanent :ive' ussia
The idea of reforming the Security Council is not a to) )riority of Russia( Russia
+ill neither initiate nor )articularly insist u)on reform3 es)ecially if the )o+er of ,eto is
altered( At this time3 Russia is generally seen as not strong enough to dictate anything that is
solely in her interest( That is not to say3 ho+e,er3 that Russia&s interests +ill 'e ignored
outright( *t still has a formida'le collection of nuclear +ea)ons that can not 'e discounted(
*n a /000 statement to the 9or-ing Grou) on Security Council Reform3 a Russian
re)resentati,e said that the ,eto is Ccrucial to Hthe current Council&sI a'ility to function
effecti,ely and to arri,e at 'alanced and sustainable decisions(D
22
* thin- that this
Re)resentati,e has hit u)on a )ragmatic truth( The ,eto )ro,ision may ensure that any
Council decision that does )ass +ill ha,e a good chance of actual im)lementation( Russia&s
,ie+ is that the ,eto is a reality 'ecause +ith or +ithout it countries can hi<ac- decisions 'e
merely refusing to )artici)ate or gi,e u) resources(
Russia has stated that it is +illing to e;)and the )ermanent mem'ershi) 'ut +hether
they should 'e gi,en ,eto )o+er is another matter that Cshould 'e gi,en su'stantial
/2
consideration after the com)ositionFHhasI 'een agreed u)on(D
2
Russia has3 for e;am)le3
'ac-ed the 'id of *ndia( Russia is also -een on the idea of im)ro,ing the Council&s +or-ing
methods 'y +ay of more trans)arency(
The 9ermanent :ive' United States
C9hether )rogress +ill 'e made on the council reform issue de)ends on the U(S(D
said a senior 6a)anese %oreign Ministry official(
21
The United States is the most )o+erful
country in the +orld and carries tremendous influence(
*ts inclusion in the Security Council is crucial3 'ut that doesn&t mean that the
relationshi) is one8sided( The United States3 as e,idenced 'y the situation in *ra:3 also needs
the United Nations( The "ush Cgo it aloneD attitude is ineffecti,e and detrimental to )eace
and security( *n a +orld so de)endent on glo'al trade and ties3 the United States cannot afford
to 'e arrogant( !erha)s current )resident "ush +ill internali.e the lesson of the recent 9T5
steel tariff decision against the United States( The lesson 'eing= the rest of the +orld has
)lenty of le,erage against the sole su)er)o+er of the +orld(
The United States has3 ho+e,er3 su))orted reform of the Security Council( During
the Clinton administration3 the United States 'ac-ed and fought hard for e;)ansion and
inclusion of Germany and 6a)an(
22
The )lan e,entually stalled after a num'er of small and
+ea-er states +ere afraid that their influence +ould diminish +ith e;)ansion( 9ith the
colla)se of this )lan the momentum for reform in the mid /000s +as lost( The United States
in,ested a lot in this effort and unfortunately nothing +as e,er )assed(
5n the to)ic of the ,eto3 the conser,ati,e leadershi) in the United States is fearful
that they +ill lose so,ereignty if their ,eto )o+er is e,er diluted or ta-en a+ay( The ,eto
)o+er is also3 not sur)risingly3 used most 'y the United States 8 recently to defend its *sraeli
allies from any formal criticism Lsee ,eto history on )g(//M( Another concern of the United
/7
States3 +hether under the leadershi) of li'eral internationalists or conser,ati,e nationalists3 is
that the Security Council not 'e too large and un+ieldy that it cannot come to conclusions(
9otentials' <apan
6a)an is first or second in line to get a )ermanent seat on the Security Council if it is
e,er e;)anded( 6a)an has +or-ed ,ery acti,ely to reali.e reform +ithout e,er succeeding( *n
a 2000 6a)anese Ministry of %oreign Affairs document3 6a)an&s )osition +as outlined( Eere
are some of the main )oints(
C/( *t is a'solutely necessary to e;)and the )ermanent mem'ershi) +ith the
addition of 'oth de,elo)ed and de,elo)ing countries +hich )ossess the a'ility
and +ill to assume glo'al res)onsi'ility for international )eace and security(
6a)an is )re)ared to assume greater res)onsi'ilities as a )ermanent mem'er of
the reformed Security Council(
F
( *n order to maintain 'oth effecti,eness and re)resentati,eness3 the
a))ro)riate si.e of the e;)anded Security Council should 'e t+enty8four
mem'ers3 +ith the addition of t+o de,elo)ed and three de,elo)ing countries
to the )ermanent mem'ershi) and four non8)ermanent mem'ers(
F
2( Concerning the ,eto3 as a matter of )rinci)le3 there should 'e no
differentiation 'et+een ne+ and old )ermanent mem'ers( *n 6a)an&s ,ie+3 the
resolution of this issue +ill re:uire the )olitical <udgment of all nations at the
final states of negotiation(
7( The Security Council&s +or- methods should 'e im)ro,ed to increase
trans)arency and accounta'ility(D
27

Another )oint that 6a)an has 'rought u) to <ustify its )lace on the Security
Council is the fact that they are ma<or contri'utors to the United Nations 'udget( *n
fact they shouldered o,er 20P of the 'udget in 2000 $ second only to the United
States(
2A
/A
6a)an&s 'id is not +ithout o))osition( 5))osition comes not only from
mem'er states 'ut also domestically( *n 6a)an3 a large sector of the )u'lic fears that a
Security Council seat might dra+ 6a)an into distant conflicts and strengthen 6a)anese
militarism(
2B
9otentials' *ermany
Usually s)o-en in the same sentence as 6a)an3 Germany is another country
that +ill li-ely 'e added if e;)ansion e,er occurs( Germany&s situation also shares a
lot in common +ith 6a)an&s situation(
"oth en<oy the su))ort of many mem'er states( 5ne nota'le e;ce)tion is
*taly( *taly intensely o))oses a )ermanent seat for Germany and has often made harsh
references to history in ma-ing its case(
20
*taly is also )ro'a'ly +orried of 'eing the
one ma<or industriali.ed Euro)ean country left out of the council( *nstead3 *taly has
)ro)osed that no ne+ )ermanent mem'ers 'e added 'ut an e;)ansion in the num'er
of non8)ermanent mem'ers( Germany also faces some domestic o))osition from the
conser,ati,es in Germany( Germany also insist that as second and third largest due8
)ayers they are entitled to s)ecial status(
9otentials' Bra=il
/B
"ra.il is seen as a leading contender for a seat among de,elo)ing countries and in
its South American region( Currently3 there is no )ermanent re)resentation from South
America and little re)resentation from de,elo)ing countries( *n a statement to the United
Nations 9or-ing Grou) on reform3 the "ra.ilian Go,ernment states that it +ould li-e to see
changes ta-e into consideration Cthe emergence of countries $ de,elo)ed and de,elo)ing
ali-e $ that are ca)a'le and +illing to contri'ute to the maintenance of international )eace
and security( !ermanent mem'ershi) +ould entail additional res)onsi'ilities and costs(D
0
5ne issue that o))onents of "ra.il&s entry is that it fails to re)resent the South American
region +ell since the official language is !ortuguese and not S)anish(
9otentials' "ndia
Recently L200/802M3 *ndia has clamored for Security Council reform( Any
e;)ansion of the Security Council +ould definitely include a de,elo)ing country since this
re)resentation is currently lac-ing( *ndia is using this argument that the Security Council is
Cunre)resentati,e and anachronisticD to )ush for+ard its o+n agenda of gaining a seat on the
Security Council( Along +ith "ra.il3 *ndia is seen as one of the strongest candidates among
de,elo)ing countries(
A large num'er of )o+erful countries ha,e come out in su))ort of *ndia&s 'id(
"ritain3 Russia3 and %rance ha,e all made strong statements su))orting *ndia in its :uest( *n
the strongest e;am)le of su))ort3 "ritain&s commitment +as solidified in the Ne+ Delhi
declaration signed 'y "lain and *ndian !rime Minister @a<)ayee in early 2002( C"ritain
continues to ,ie+ *ndia as a natural contender for )ermanent mem'ershi) of the Security
Council and +ill +or- +ith *ndia to achie,e it3D the declaration said(
/
/0
Conclusion
Security Council reform is unli-ely to 'e ta-en seriously +hile George "ush is still
in office( Eo)efully the frustration that has gathered in connection +ith the unilateral action
of the United States in *ra: +ill translate to momentum at an o))ortune time( At +hich time3
Security Council reform +ill ha,e a chance to succeed(
*n my o+n o)inion3 * 'elie,e that mo,ing for+ard the 'est reform +ould 'e to
e;)and the Security Council 'y fi,e )ermanent mem'ers +ho do not get the ,eto )o+er( *
thin- that this is )ragmatically the 'est idea 'ecause it has a realistic chance to )ass(
%urthermore3 it ma-es the Security Council more re)resentati,e of the +orld +ithout ma-ing
the Council too 'ul-y(
The challenges facing today&s international community3 such as tension in the
Middle East3 A*DS3 and the en,ironment3 can only 'e resol,ed through coordinated and
multilateral efforts( The reason 'eing is the glo'al nature of many of these )ro'lems( As the
United Nations de'ates )ossi'le reform let us not forget the im)ortance of ha,ing a strong
international organi.ation( As frustrating as it might 'e for the largest country or the smallest
country to +or- +ithin the United Nations frame+or- the alternati,es are not +orth
considering(

20
>ork Cited
2/
/
United Nations +e'site( htt)=>>+++(un(org>a'outun>history(htm
2
C9ho&s in3 9ho&s 5ut= UN Security Council Mulls Reform(D Christian Science Monitor( 5ct( /73 2002( Michael 6ordan(

CSecurity Council(D Dr( Danesh D( Sarooshi( Uni,ersity of #ondon(

1
*'id
2
*'id
7
*'id
A
CReforming the UN Security Council= 9ill its Time E,er ComeGD USA8UNA( March /A3200( 6effrey #aurenti
B
CMa-e the UN a 9orld Go,ernment(D The *nde)endent( 6une //3 /000( Titus Ale;ander(
0
CThe in8security council $ dum) it or gro+ itGD Media Monitors Net+or-( May /23 200( Chithra 4aruna4aran(
/0
CChirac UN s)eech to the General Assem'ly( 0>0
//
CAnnan )resses for UN reform(D Se)t( 03 200( htt)=>>+++(''c(co(u->radio1>ne+s>un>annan?article(shtml
/2
*'id
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CChirac UN s)eech to the General Assem'ly( 0>0
/1
CSecurity Council(D Dr( Danesh D( Sarooshi( Uni,ersity of #ondon(
/2
CAs Reform Negotiations Reach %e,er !itch3 Germany and 6a)an !ush for !ermanent Seats(D Ne+ Qor-3 A March /00A( 6ames
!aul(
/7
*'id
/A
CSelected Ruotations on the Su'<ect of UN Reform(D 22
nd
UN General Assem'ly( Se)t( 223 /00A( Eri- Deryc-e(
/B
Statement on the @eto 'y Am'assador Shen Guofang A)r 23 /00B to the 9or-ing Grou) on Reform(
/0
CAnnan See-s E;)anded UN Security Council(D Associated !ress( Se)tem'er 23 200( Ran<an Roy(
20
*'id
2/
CSelected Ruotations on the Su'<ect of UN Reform(D 22
nd
UN General Assem'ly( Se)t( 223 /00A( Ro'in Coo-(
22
Statement to 9or-ing Grou) on Reform( Russian Delegation( March 213 /000(
2
*'id
21
C6a)an Rethin-s Strategy for Gaining !ermanent UN Security Council Seat(D 6a)an Times3 May 2032002( Eisane Masa-i(
22
CReforming the UN Security Council= 9ill its Time E,er ComeGD USA8UNA( March /A3200( 6effrey #aurenti
27
C6a)an&s !osition on Security Council Reform(D Ministry of %oreign Affairs of 6a)an
Shtt)=>>+++(mofa(go(<)>)olicy>un>reform>role2/>htmlT
2A
C6a)an Rethin-s Strategy for Gaining !ermanent UN Security Council Seat(D 6a)an Times3 May 2032002( Eisane Masa-i(
2B
CAs Reform Negotiations Reach %e,er !itch3 Germany and 6a)an !ush for !ermanent Seats(D Ne+ Qor-3 A March /00A( 6ames
!aul(
20
*'id
0
Reform of the UN Security Council "ra.ilian Go,&t statement( htt)=>>+++>und)(org>missions>'ra.il>reformunH/I(htm
/
C"ritain to Su))ort *ndia&s Claim(D Deutshe !resse8Agentur( 6an A3 2002(