Overview
India should get its ‘rightful place’ as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), according to ex-Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, a former president of the top UN body.
About UNSC
- It is one of the five principle organizations of the United Nations (UN).
- It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- Under the Charter of the UN, all Member States are obligated to comply with UNSC decisions.
- The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression.
- It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.
- In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
Powers
- Establishment of peacekeeping operations
- Establishment of international sanctions
- Authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
Members
- 5 permanent members known as P5, including the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States.
- The P5’s privileged status has its roots in the United Nations’ founding in the aftermath of World War II.
- They have veto power over decisions of UNSC.
- 10 non-permanent members:
- Each year the 193-member General Assembly elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term at the UNSC.
- The nonpermanent members are generally chosen to achieve equitable representation among geographic regions, with five members coming from Africa or Asia, one from eastern Europe, two from Latin America, and two from western Europe or other areas.
- The Security Council has permanent headquarters at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Voting Powers
- Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members. A “No” vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.
- Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.
India and UNSC
- India took active part in the formulation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1947-48 and raised its voice passionately against racial discrimination in South Africa.
- India is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and has been a strong advocate for UNSC reform.
- India is not a permanent member of the UNSC, but it has been elected as a non-permanent member eight times. India’s most recent term was in 2021-2022, and it has bid for the 2028-2029 term.
- India has played its part in formulating decisions on several issues such as admitting former colonies to the UN, addressing deadly conflicts in the Middle East and maintaining peace in Africa.
- It has contributed extensively to the UN, particularly for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- India has taken part in 43 Peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding 160,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel.
- India’s population, territorial size, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system and past and ongoing contributions to UN activities make India’s demand for a permanent seat in the UNSC completely rational.
Issues with UNSC
- Absence of Records and Texts of Meetings:
- The usual UN rules don’t apply to the UNSC deliberations and no records are kept of its meetings.
- Additionally, there is no “text” of the meeting to discuss, amend or object.
- Powerplay in UNSC:
- The veto powers that the UNSC’s five permanent members enjoy is an anachronism in this age.
- The UNSC in its current form has become a constraint in understanding the international changes and dynamics in the area of human security and peace.
- Divisions Among the P5:
- There is a deep polarisation within the UN’s membership, so decisions are either not taken, or not heeded.
- Frequent divisions within the UNSC P-5 end up blocking key decisions.
- Example: With the coronavirus pandemic emergence, the UN, the UNSC, and World Health Organisation failed to play an effective role in helping nations deal with the spread.
- An Underrepresentation Organisation:
- The absence in the UNSC of the globally important countries – India, Germany, Brazil and South Africa – is a matter of concern.
Way Forward
- The imbalances in power relationships among P5 and the rest of the world needs to be corrected urgently.
- Also, it is needed to reform the Security Council through an expansion in permanent and non-permanent seats to enable the UN organ to better deal with the “ever-complex and evolving challenges” to the maintenance of international peace and security.
- India as the current one of the non-permanent members of the UNSC can start by drafting a resolution containing a comprehensive set of proposals for reforming the UNSC.
- It can further approach other like-minded countries (like the G4: India, Germany, Japan and Brazil) and keep growing its circle of support till sufficient numbers of countries are together to reach out to the whole UNGA to propose the resolution with a realistic chance of winning the vote.
