ETVT the UNSC is still fit for purpose

T1 – Veto Power, yes

Veto power is needed to prevent members from acting in own interest, key staying factor for superpowers, evident in UNSC still existing unchanged since creation.

Compare previously to League of Nations without power, saw states leaving 10-20 years after creation e.g. Japan, Germany.

Presence of veto power means not using it legitimises resolutions e.g. universal support for action to neutralise Gbagbo in Cote d’Ivorie and to disarm militias in East Timor.

T1 – Veto Power, no

Prevents 5 permanent members from accountability, can veto anything.

Russia vetoing condemnation of Ukraine, paralysis in Cold War suggests UNSC not fit for future conflict between permanent members.

Also prevents others from acting in national interest by acting in national interest with veto power, Russia/China 17/8 vetoes on Syria to prevent eastward spread of democracy.

Powerful states can evade veto, e.g. Iraq War, where war resolution was aborted in favour of 1441 (weapons inspections), war went ahead anyways.

T1 – Veto Power, overall

UNSC successful engagement with veto for strong powers walled instantly when any permanent member involved in conflict, tool for P5 power projection suggests UNSC hindered by need for unanimous consensus.

T2 – Membership, yes

Involvement of strong powers, including gbl superpowers suggests legitimacy of UNSC greater authority.

Members such as UK and France extremely politically influential, nuclear powers with greatest soft power.

Also includes wider geographical representation with non-permanent rotating members, 70% of states have been at least once.

UNSC has strong continuous global representation that presently suggests it is fit for purpose.

T2 – Membership, no

UNSC membership fundamentally flawed as based on 1945 world power, victors of WW2 that 80 years later does not hold true.

UK and France lacking same power and influence as others with rapid growth of population and economy as other 3, reflected in non-use of veto power (since 2006).

Coincides with ignorance of states that have grown more powerful than those 2 e.g. Germany (largest economy in Europe, 3^rd largest overall), India (4^th largest economy) or Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa (UNSC lacks representation from respective continents).

Spec last 3 demonstrate apparent polarity between West/East in UNSC, could be resolved via greater rep.

Far more sensical options for permanent membership, effective representation must come from present not past.

T2 – Membership, overall

Overall, UNSC’s anachronistic composition triggers legitimacy crisis, erodes global authority. UNSC suffers representational deficit that alienates the Global South, stagnant and unfit to command universal compliance.