The United Nations Security council is a system with some deep implemented problems. Most important are the unproportionate representation of the United Nation’s members and the inequality of voting power of its permanent members. It is of every, but those five permanent members interest that these flaws are fixed. This paper elaborates three different approaches to do so for Austria.
First, the removal of the permanent member status or at least its right to veto resolutions. Second, the withdrawal from the United Nations while forming a new supranational organisation. And last, the option to bide for a better opportunity to implement one of the other policies and to avoid negative consequences. There are positive as well as negative consequences to each of those policies which are discussed separately. Secluding this policy brief will come to the conclusion that the formal proposal is the best option for Austria at the moment.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Statement of Issue
3. Options
3. A. Abolition of the P5
3. B. Withdrawal from the UNO
3. C. Bide
4. Summary
Objectives and Topics
This policy brief aims to analyze the systemic flaws within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and evaluate potential reform strategies from an Austrian perspective, specifically addressing the disproportionate power of the permanent five (P5) members and the inequality of their voting rights.
- Analysis of the P5 veto power and its impact on international law.
- Examination of the disproportional representation within the Security Council.
- Evaluation of potential reform options, including abolition, withdrawal, or maintaining the status quo.
- Formulation of a policy recommendation for Austria's position at the UN General Assembly.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Statement of issue
There are two big issues with how the United Nations Security Council works since it was formed in 1945. First, the veto power: The most important and strongest victorious powers of WW II, who are more or less coincidently also the only states who legally own and operate nuclear weapons according to Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, France, the United stated of America, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the republic of China are fitted with an unconditional veto. Meaning, any of those permanent Council members can basically infringe any international law they please without any institutional consequences whatsoever. Although when asked, it is often but weakly argued that like this, the major global powers are forced to come to compromise or even consent on global conflict issues, but history as well as presence prove that statement wrong. The only peacebuilding achievement, and one has to leave that to them, is the successful prevention of open wars between those major powers. Thus, it could be argued that the United Nations Security Council is in fact an oligarchical system, keeping everyone on the outside of the permanent council loge down. This circumstance alone displays already that the Security council System was rigged right from the drawing board and the only effect of the Veto power is a cartel-like instrument to keep as much power in relation to non P5 states as possible. Accepting this fact, one must also accept that the attempt to increase the number of permanent members like in the Annan plan (A) in 2005 (Mingst & Karns, 2012, 51) is not only not going to happen, considering the fact that for a step like that would require that none of the existing P5 would veto it, but that it would hinder the purposes of the United Nations Charter (UN Charter, art. 1). In other words, more Nations with veto right would render the situation even worse by making resolutions harder to achieve.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The chapter provides a historical context of the United Nations and outlines the primary concerns regarding the veto power and representation within the Security Council.
2. Statement of Issue: This section details the two fundamental problems of the UNSC: the unconditional veto power held by the P5 and the disproportionate, NATO-skewed representation of its members.
3. Options: This chapter explores three distinct strategic responses for Austria: advocating for the abolition of the P5, withdrawing from the UN, or maintaining the status quo (bide).
4. Summary: The final chapter consolidates the analyzed issues and provides a formal policy recommendation for Austria to pursue the elimination of permanent membership.
Keywords
UNO, UNSC, reform, Austria, Veto power, Permanent Five, P5, United Nations, International Law, Security Council, Disproportional representation, Sovereignty, UNGA, Global governance, Foreign policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines systemic issues within the United Nations Security Council, specifically focusing on the disproportionate influence of the permanent five members and the implications of the veto power.
Which specific reform options are analyzed?
The author analyzes three options: the abolition of the permanent member status/veto, the withdrawal from the United Nations to form a new organization, and the option to "bide" by maintaining the status quo.
What is the central research question or goal?
The goal is to provide a policy recommendation for Austria regarding its position in the UN General Assembly to address the lack of equality and fairness within the Security Council structure.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a qualitative policy analysis approach, weighing the political and legal consequences of various reform scenarios to suggest the most viable path for Austria.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the historical failure of the League of Nations as a backdrop, the legal and power-political critique of the P5, and a risk-benefit assessment of proposed radical changes versus the current status quo.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include UNO, UNSC, reform, Austria, Veto power, Permanent Five, and International Law.
How does the author characterize the UN Security Council system?
The author characterizes the UNSC as an "oligarchical system" and a "cartel-like instrument" that serves to maintain the power of major world powers at the expense of sovereign equality.
Why does the author advise against expanding the number of permanent members?
The author argues that expanding the P5 would be impossible due to the need for unanimous P5 approval and would further hinder the UN's ability to achieve resolutions, thereby worsening the situation.
What is the final policy recommendation?
The author recommends that Austria formally propose the elimination of the permanent membership status as a symbolic first step to signal dissatisfaction without immediately pursuing more radical, potentially damaging actions like withdrawal.
- Citation du texte
- Tom Tanner (Auteur), 2018, Policy brief on possible reforms of the UN-Security Council, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/432452
