The Security Council’s Veto in the Balance

Abstract

The United Nations Security Council has been of unique importance and authority in serving the maintenance of international peace and security, which puts it in a position integral to the functioning of international law and international relations. Yet, it is widely viewed as having had a mixed track record. At the time when the Security Council is considered to have played a very important role in remedying some international issues, it is also viewed to have failed in dealing with many others. Such failure is considered by many to be a direct result to the decision-making methodology of the Council, namely the veto power granted to the permanent five members of the Security Council. Therefore, such power has been the subject of many calls for Security Council reforms, which in some cases presented its abolition as one of the options to deal with what they deem as dysfunction of the Council. This study attempts to address the debate surrounding the veto power by outlining its rationale, and analyzing both sides of the debate in relation to its reform. It attempts to present a common ground for veto reform that could be more feasible for implementation in the presence of various obstacles in the current dynamics of international relations.

Keywords: United Nations, Security Council, Veto, Permanent Members, Reform