UN/SC

From Wikispooks
< UN(Redirected from UN Security Council)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Group.png UN/SC  
(IGO, UNWebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
United Nations Security Council mural.jpg
AbbreviationUNSC
Parent organizationUN
LeaderPresident of the United Nations Security Council
Typeinternational
Subgroups• United Nations/Security Council/Counter-Terrorism Committee
• United Nations/Security Council/Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate
SubpageUN/SC/Counter-Terrorism Committee
UN/SC/President
UN/SC/Resolution 2593
UN/SC/Resolution 435
UN/SC/Resolution 573
UN/SC/Resolutions Critical of Israel
UN/SC/Vetoes
Membership• China
• France
• Russia
• UK
• USA
In addition to the permanent members above (who have veto powers), there is a rotating membership of 10 more who don't.
The military arm of the UN. It is able to change rules in the UN Charter, and is able as only UN entity to send or deploy the military of the UN and its permanent members to countries. It hasn't proved to be very consistent and is often in a stalemate because of veto powers and deep lobbying.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to the United Nations Charter. It has 5 permanent members (Russia, UK, France, China, USA) and 10 members rotate on an annual basis with all full members of the UN eligible to serve.

Powers of the UN Security Council include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the imposition of international sanctions, and the authorisation of military action through Security Council resolutions; it is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states. The UNSC held its first session on 17 January 1946.

Vetoes

Is the United Nations a Failed Organization?
UNSC vetoes.png

The five permanent members (P5) have the power of veto over the adoption of proposed substantive resolutions. The veto was used extensively by the Soviet Union from 1946 up to 1970, then in the 1980s and 1990s extensively by USA (often to prevent Israel from censure). More recently Russia – which replaced the Soviet Union in 1991 – and China – which became a P5 member in 1971 – tend to deploy their vetoes the most:

Arms Production

The 5 permanent UN Security Council members were all in the top 6 nations worldwide as regards arms export from 2012-2016.[1]

 

Known members

All 5 of the members already have pages here:

MemberDescription
ChinaThe most populous nation state in the world
FranceA European nation, former colonial power, permanent seat on the UNSC
RussiaThe largest nation state in the world
UKThe biggest Island in Europe. It was a world power with massive influence for over 4 centuries.
USThe United States is the single biggest military spender in the world, with a higher 2020 expenditure than the next ten countries combined. Its infrastructure has been described to be in disrepair since the late 1980s.

 

Related Documents

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:Gaddafi's 2009 speech: "Let's call it the UN Terror Council"Speech23 September 2009Muammar GaddafiNo one is above the UN General Assembly. All nations should be and should be seen to be on an equal footing. At present, the UN Security Council is security feudalism, political feudalism for those with permanent seats, protected by them and used against us. It should be called, not the UN Security Council, but the UN Terror Council.
Document:Has International Law Survived, or Has the Western Political Class Killed It?blog post28 January 2024Craig MurrayNow think of this: the very next day after President Herzog made a genocidal statement, as determined by the International Court of Justice, he was met and offered “full support” by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
Document:Hunger As A Weaponarticle17 February 2014Franklin LambOn the US's exploitation at the UN Security Council of humanitarian suffering in Syria to cynically further its policy aims.
Document:Libya: Fine, but why Britainarticle20 March 2011Brian BarderDavid Cameron seemingly Gung Ho on toppling the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, while Barack Obama takes a back seat
File:Henderson-Testimony-UN.pdfTranscript10 February 2020Ian Henderson (OPCW)Transcript of the testimony of ex-OPCW inspector Ian Henderson before the UNSC on 20 January 2020 about the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria on 18 April 2018, and the subsequent OPCW report about it.
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References