UN Security Council: the expansion debate “The UN’s most powerful decision- making body is its most prominent anachronism”, - “The UN’s most powerful decision-

UN Security Council: UN Security Council: the expansion debatethe expansion debate

““The UN’s most powerful decision-The UN’s most powerful decision-making body is its most prominent making body is its most prominent anachronism”,anachronism”, - -

these are the words that best reflect the these are the words that best reflect the most countries’ opinion on the UN most countries’ opinion on the UN Security Council.Security Council.


Nowadays, few still argue that the UN Nowadays, few still argue that the UN Security Council, in which Security Council, in which AfricaAfrica, , Latin Latin AmericaAmerica and the and the Islamic WorldIslamic World have no have no permanent voice, can genuinely speak for permanent voice, can genuinely speak for the international community;the international community;

Iraq crisis (2003)Iraq crisis (2003) generated a debate on generated a debate on the functioning and the efficacy of the the functioning and the efficacy of the Security Council and of the UN itself.Security Council and of the UN itself.


The The UN Secretary GeneralUN Secretary General, , Kofi Kofi AnnanAnnan: “the need for SC reform is not : “the need for SC reform is not questioned <…> It needs new questioned <…> It needs new members and more of them, but how members and more of them, but how many, and which ones?”many, and which ones?”

Will the expansion lead to the Will the expansion lead to the dilution of SC’s power and make the dilution of SC’s power and make the SC weaker in terms of decision SC weaker in terms of decision making?making?


Proponents of expansionProponents of expansion: : - greater representation will grant - greater representation will grant

additional legitimacy of Council additional legitimacy of Council resolutions;resolutions;

Many experts disagreeMany experts disagree:: - history and experience suggest that - history and experience suggest that

expansion will impede the ability of expansion will impede the ability of the Security Council to act promptly the Security Council to act promptly and decisively.and decisively.

UN Security Council: UN Security Council: the expansion debatethe expansion debate• Security Council is the first among six equal Security Council is the first among six equal

bodies in the U.N. system;bodies in the U.N. system;• UN Charter created an 11-member Security UN Charter created an 11-member Security

Council that included Council that included five permanent seatsfive permanent seats for for the victorious powers of World War II (USA, UK, the victorious powers of World War II (USA, UK, France, China, USSR) + France, China, USSR) + six elected seats six elected seats for for other member states to hold for two-year other member states to hold for two-year terms;terms;

• 1963 – amendment to the UN Charter added 1963 – amendment to the UN Charter added four more elected seatsfour more elected seats for a total of 15 for a total of 15 members.members.


Membership in the U.N. now totals 191Membership in the U.N. now totals 191 Many members again are for expansion Many members again are for expansion

of the Security Council:of the Security Council:

- - Germany, Italy, JapanGermany, Italy, Japan

- - Non-Aligned MovementNon-Aligned Movement (UN General (UN General Assembly coalition for developing Assembly coalition for developing countries)countries)

““Every country looks to its own Every country looks to its own advantage when it comes to reform of advantage when it comes to reform of the composition of the Council.”the composition of the Council.”


• GermanyGermany and and JapanJapan on the basic on the basic economic influence see themselves as economic influence see themselves as potential new permanent members;potential new permanent members;

• A single permanent seat was suggested A single permanent seat was suggested for for the European Union;the European Union;

• Some Some developing countriesdeveloping countries consider consider themselves natural candidates for themselves natural candidates for permanent membership (India, Brazil, permanent membership (India, Brazil, Nigeria).Nigeria).


Many Many middle powersmiddle powers oppose the oppose the reform entirely: reform entirely:

- - ItalyItaly’s proposal is to create no new ’s proposal is to create no new permanent members, but rather a new permanent members, but rather a new class of rotating seatsclass of rotating seats..


Such countries as Such countries as the United Statesthe United States, , FranceFrance, , ChinaChina, and , and Russia Russia believe:believe:

if the Security Council if the Security Council membership is increased to some membership is increased to some 25 or more states, the Council 25 or more states, the Council may become a smaller version of may become a smaller version of the unwieldy and quarrelsome the unwieldy and quarrelsome General Assembly.General Assembly.

ConclusionConclusion Debate at the UN on the issue of Debate at the UN on the issue of

composition is currently deadlocked;composition is currently deadlocked; While everyone has their favorite While everyone has their favorite

scheme for reform of the scheme for reform of the composition of the Council…their composition of the Council…their second best is the second best is the status quostatus quo;;

Lack of progress reflects badly on the Lack of progress reflects badly on the unity of the United Nations.unity of the United Nations.

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UN Security Council: the expansion debate “The UN’s most powerful decision- making body is its most prominent anachronism”, - “The UN’s most powerful decision-