UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: THEMATIC FUTURES

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers outlines principles for reforming the UN Security Council (UNSC) to better reflect current global power dynamics and increase legitimacy. The author argues for an expanded Council that balances representation with functionality and realism, proposing the removal of the veto and the introduction of minimum capacity criteria for membership.

• UNSC reform must balance three competing primary principles: legitimacy (focused on representation and equity), functionality (concerning size and efficiency), and realism (acknowledging that power matters).
• The author suggests that while the Council needs to be larger due to the increase in UN member states since 1945, it should not exceed 27 members to maintain effectiveness.
• The document proposes that Global Powers, specifically naming the US and China, should be included and their votes should count for more than one, but the veto power should be abolished for all countries.
• To ensure the Council can effectively respond to international peace and security, the author argues for minimum capacity criteria for membership, such as a state's track record and the number of embassies it maintains in conflict-affected areas.
• The paper suggests that regional coalitions, such as Africa or Europe, could consolidate their representation through a single country or an organization like the AU Commission or EU to qualify for global power status.

APA

Cilliers, J. (2026). UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: THEMATIC FUTURES. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=05-reform-principles

Chicago

Cilliers, Jakkie. UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: THEMATIC FUTURES. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=05-reform-principles.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cilliers |first1=Jakkie |title=UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: THEMATIC FUTURES |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=29 March 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=05-reform-principles |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cilliers2026security, author = {Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: THEMATIC FUTURES}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=05-reform-principles}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }