UN Security Council

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers analyzes the failure of UN Security Council (UNSC) reform, attributing the deadlock to the entrenched positions of negotiating blocks and the P5 members' desire to maintain the veto power and their associated privileges.

• The UN Security Council is described as a dysfunctional and illegitimate system because the P5 members use their veto power to block non-procedural resolutions and act in their own national interests outside the Council. This power dynamic cascades through the entire UN system, hindering the appointment of the Secretary-General, amendments to the UN Charter, and reforms of the UN Human Rights Council and ECOSOC.
• P5 members generally prefer the status quo to avoid diluting their privileges. While China and Russia publicly support reform, they practically undermine proposals that would reduce their power. The US, UK, and France (P3) focus on the resources and responsibilities required for their roles, while the US administration under Donald Trump is noted for its disdain for multilateralism.
• Efforts by middle powers to secure permanent seats are blocked by regional competitors and specific opposition. Germany, India, Brazil, and Japan face these hurdles, with Japan specifically facing opposition from China. Additionally, there is no agreed formula for expanding the Council to improve regional balance for Latin America and Africa.
• Developing countries, including the African Group, generally advocate for the abolition of the veto. However, if the veto is retained, they maintain that any new permanent members must be granted the same rights and privileges as the current permanent members.

APA

Cilliers, J. (2026). UN Security Council. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=03-reform

Chicago

Cilliers, Jakkie. UN Security Council. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=03-reform.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cilliers |first1=Jakkie |title=UN Security Council |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=29 March 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=03-reform |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cilliers2026security, author = {Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{UN Security Council}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=19-un-security-council&topic=03-reform}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }