The Security Council’s Enlargement Issue

Abstract

Created in a post-crisis context, the Security Council is considered as the window through which United Nations’ activities are evaluated. As the main body in charge of maintaining international peace and security, the Council must be characterized by both effectiveness and legitimacy. Therefore, new requirements of the international scene have to be taken into account, including improving its representativeness. Legitimacy of the Council is permanently challenged due to, among others, its old composition, make it necessary to engage a reform in order to guarantee its effectiveness. This is the wish of almost all States and even the doctrine, but the institution is still facing the problem of its feasibility. It seems illusory to consider that a collective security system designed to guarantee security of a constantly changing world can be effective while remaining totally faithful to its very first conception.

Keywords: Security Council, Enlargement, Reform

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/84-12

Publication date: April 30^th 2019