Elected member influence in the United Nations Security Council

Date

2019-11-28

Authors

Farrall, Jeremy
Loiselle, Marie-Eve
Michaelson, Christopher
Prantl, Jochen
Whalan, Jeni

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Abstract

This article reassesses how members of the UN Security Council exercise influence over the Council's decision-making process, with particular focus on the ten elected members (the E10). A common understanding of Security Council dynamics accords predominance to the five permanent members (the P5), suggesting bleak prospects for the Council as a forum that promotes the voices and representation of the 188 non-permanent members. The assumption is that real power rests with the P5, while the E10 are there to make up the numbers. By articulating a richer account of Council dynamics, this article contests the conventional wisdom that P5 centrality crowds out space for the E10 to influence Council decision-making. It also shows that opportunities for influencing Council decision-making go beyond stints of elected membership. It argues that the assumed centrality of the P5 on the Council thus needs to be qualified and re-evaluated.

Description

Keywords

decsion-making, elected members’ influence, reform, UN Security Council

Citation

Source

Leiden Journal of International Law

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

License Rights

Restricted until

2037-12-31