Syllabus: GS2/International Organization
Context
- In the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), France has made a proposal to enhance the functioning of the UN, especially in dealing with collective security and the use of veto.
About the United Nations
- The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.
- The main bodies of the United Nations are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.
- All were established under the UN Charter when the Organization was founded in 1945.
- Members: Currently it has 193 Member States and its work is guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.
- All UN Member States are members of the General Assembly.
- Membership: States are admitted to membership by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
- The Security Council is the UN’s premier decision-making body.
- It has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members).
- The five permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have the veto power and non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
- It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- The Secretary-General is Chief Administrative Officer of the UN.
- The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a 5-year renewable term.
Election of Non Permanent Members
- Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term.
- The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as follows:
- Five for African and Asian States;
- One for the Eastern European States;
- Two for the Latin American and Caribbean States;
- Two for Western European and other States.
- To be elected to the Council, candidate countries need a two-thirds majority of ballots of the Member States that are present and voting in the Assembly.
- The elections are held with each of the 193 member states casting its vote in a secret ballot.
- More than 50 United Nations Member States have never been Members of the Security Council.
- India last sat at the UN high table as a non-permanent member in 2021-22.
Need for the Reforms in the UNSC
- Current Composition: The current composition of the Security Council has under-representation and un-representation of key regions.
- Changes in World Order: The world has undergone significant changes since 1945 and the new realities need to be reflected in the permanent membership.
- Veto Power: Currently, only the five permanent members hold veto powers and through its use have stalled action in the Council to address global challenges and conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza.
- The remaining 10 nations in the Council are elected to sit as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers.
- Legitimacy: The disproportionate power held by the five permanent members, particularly their veto power lead to a perception of unfairness and lack of legitimacy.
- Loss of Relevance and Credibility: The UN is increasingly sidelined in major global crises, its failure to enforce collective decisions has eroded faith in multilateralism.
- Changing Global Power Structure: The UN reflects the power realities of 1945, not the 21st century, emerging powers like India, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and South Africa deserve permanent representation.
- Addressing Emerging Global Challenges: Issues like climate change, cyber warfare, pandemics, and AI governance demand a more responsive and modernized UN structure.
Limitations in Introducing the Reforms in UNSC
- Veto Power of Permanent Members: Any reforms to the composition or working methods of the UNSC require the approval of the five permanent members.
- These countries have divergent interests and are reluctant to support changes that could diminish their influence within the Council.
- Regional Dynamics: Regional rivalries and geopolitical tensions complicate efforts to reform the Council.
- Complexity of the Reform Process: Amending the UN Charter to enact reforms requires a lengthy and complex process involving ratification by a significant number of member states, making it difficult to enact substantive reforms.
- Question of veto for new members: There is no consensus on whether an expanded permanent membership should also receive veto rights.
Way Ahead
- The call for reform is driven by the UN’s diminishing credibility and outdated structure.
- However, deep contradictions within its founding design, between democracy and great-power privilege make genuine reform almost impossible.
- Hence, while incremental reforms (e.g., improving transparency, enhancing regional voices) may be feasible, a new global multilateral framework suited for a multipolar world may eventually be necessary.
Source: TH
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