The United Nations: Successes, Challenges, and Reforms

Outline

1. United Nations
2. Structure of UN
3. UN Peacekeeping missions
4. What Other Types of Organizations Are in the UN System?
5. What Are Key UN System Activities and Coordinating Mechanisms?
6. How is the UN system funded?
7. What is UN reform?
8. What Are Obstacles to UN Reform?
9. What is the reform implementation process?
10. What is the status of UN Security Council Reform?
11. How successful has the UN been in Maintaining International Peace and Security?
12. Pakistan and United Nations Peacekeeping: Experiences and Opportunities
13. India & its struggle to get Permanent seat in UN

1. Introduction

• Established in 1945, after WW II
• 80 years, till 2024
• 193 members
• 15 members (Secretariat run by Secretary-General)
• Located in New york
• Founding document, UN Charter

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2. Structure of UN

• Six UN “principal organs” (or parts):
• The General Assembly
• 193 members, Plenary body,
• The Assembly was established under Chapter VI of the UN Charter.
• It provides a multilateral platform where each country possesses one vote, regardless of geographic size, population, or global influence.
• A two-thirds majority vote required for decisions related to important issues, admission of new members, and approval of the UN regular budget and UN peacekeeping operations budget. The Assembly may adopt recommendations concerning the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as political, economic, social, and human rights issues, but these are recommendatory in nature and nonbinding.

The Assembly’s annual regular session opens in September and runs for one year, with its meeting of heads of state and government held at the beginning of the session.

The Security Council

• 15 members; five permanent members (“P-5”): the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, and 10 nonpermanent members elected by the General Assembly for staggered two-year terms on the basis of equitable geographic distribution
• Pakistan on 6 June, 2024, after months of hard work, won non-permanent seat in UN.
• Pakistan will replace Japan, which currently occupies the Asian seat, on Jan. 1, 2025-2026 to begin a two-year term. Pakistan's earlier terms on the UNSC were in 2012-13, 2003-04, 1993-94, 1983-84, 1976-77, 1968-69 and 1952-53
• Pakistan, which was unopposed, garnered 182 votes in the 193-member General Assembly — far more than the required 124 votes representing a two-thirds majority.
• Pakistan, Denmark, Greece, Panama and Somalia, to replace Japan, Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland whose terms end on December 31.
• The new members will join the five veto-wielding permanent members the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France and the five countries elected as non-permanent members last year Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.
• The Security Council presidency rotates each month, alphabetically by member.
• Maintain international peace and security, including authorizing peacekeeping operations; imposing sanctions on governments, groups, or individuals; and establishing fact-finding missions and investigations.
• The Security Council may also authorize the use of military force to restore international peace and security under Chapter VII of the UN Security Council, although such instances are rare.
• 3 Chapter VII provides the Security Council with authority to “determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression” and to make recommendations (or to resort to nonmilitary and military action) to “maintain or restore international peace and security.”
• Council structure and authorities are established under Chapter V of the UN Charter.
• Security Council decisions on substantive matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members, including the concurring votes of the P-5. A negative vote from any P-5 member is said to “veto” the resolution or decision, preventing its adoption.
• Since 1945, the P-5 have collectively exercised the veto 309 times (as of August 18, 2023) as follows: Russia (153), United States (87), United Kingdom (32), China (19) and France (18). Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members and are not subject to the veto. Council members may also abstain from votes.
• Although the Security Council has acted to avert conflict or maintain peace in certain situations, it has come under increased scrutiny during the past decade for taking limited or no action to address global crises such as the Syria conflict, COVID-19, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• The Security Council has authorized more than 70 peacekeeping operations since the first mission was established in 1948. It has also imposed sanctions more than 30 times since the first sanctions regime was created in 1996. For information on some observers’ concerns regarding the Security Council.

The Secretariat

• Conducts the substantive and administrative work of the organization at the request of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and other UN entities
• 7 The Secretariat is established under Chapter XV of the UN Charter.
• It is based at UN Headquarters in New York City, with additional offices in Vienna, Austria; Nairobi, Kenya; and Geneva, Switzerland.
• 35,000 staff members worldwide hired both internationally and locally.
• The Secretariat is led by the UN Secretary-General (UNSG), the organization’s “chief administrative officer,” who is appointed by the Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for up to two five-year terms.
• The current UNSG is Antonio Guterres of Portugal; his second term expires in December 2026.

The UNSG’s administrative responsibilities include recruiting and hiring staff, coordinating with UN entities, preparing the regular budget, and reporting to the General Assembly. At times, the UNSG may use his or her “good offices”, drawing on the perceived independence, moral authority, and impartiality of the position, to bring private or public attention to situations that threaten peace and security.

The Economic and Social Council

• ECOSOC is established under Chapter X of the UN Charter
• promote economic and social development and human rights
• 54 member governments selected by the General Assembly for staggered three-year terms on the basis of equitable geographic distribution, with no term limits.
• ECOSOC broadly serves as a UN forum for discussing, studying, and making recommendations on international economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related matters, as well as promoting respect for human rights.
• For example, ECOSOC holds periodic meetings on operational activities for development and humanitarian affairs. It also hosts an annual High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development; the theme of the most recent forum in July 2023 was “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.”
• It coordinates the work of UN entities, including the specialized agencies, functional commissions, and regional commissions.
• It also assists in preparing and organizing major international agreements and conferences in the economic and social fields, including implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a group of 15 goals and targets that broadly guide UN development efforts.
• The SDGs were agreed to by UN member states, including the United States, in September 2015. The goals, which are aspirational and nonbinding, are often recognized as a blueprint for global development efforts. There are 17 SDGs and 169 sub-goals (called “targets”), including ending poverty, ending hunger, providing inclusive and equitable education, and achieving gender equality, among others.
• ECOSOC is a venue for drafting treaties for General Assembly consideration, and it consults with more than 5,000 registered nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) 

The International Court of Justice (the Court)

• Principal UN judicial body.
• The ICJ is established under Chapter VIX of the UN Charter.
• Based in The Hague, Netherlands,
• the Court comprises 15 independent judges,
• Elected by both the General Assembly and the Security Council for nine-year terms.
• The Court’s role is to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.
• Under the UN Charter, all UN members, including the United States, are parties to the Statute of the ICJ, which is an annex to and “integral part” of the Charter.
• UN Charter, Chapter VIX, Article 97.

The Trusteeship Council

• Chapter XII of the UN Charter
• Supervise the administration of 11 trust territories, from colonies to sovereign nations.
• Examples of trust territories included Western Samoa (now Samoa), Tanganyika (now part of Tanzania), and Rwanda-Urundi (now Rwanda and Burundi).
• The Trusteeship Council completed its mandate in 1994 when Palau, the last of the trust territories, gained its independence.
• Although its work is complete, the Trusteeship Council remains a principal organ of the United Nations; eliminating it would likely require amending the UN Charter.

A group of interconnected entities

United Nations itself, 

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UN specialized agencies

• 15 specialized agencies
• Each of which is a legally independent intergovernmental organization with its own mandate, constitution, rules, membership, and budgets. Examples include the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), and World Health Organizations (WHO).
• Several specialized agencies, including the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), existed prior to the establishment of the United Nations
• The United States withdrew from UNESCO in 2018 but rejoined the organization in 2023.

UN funds and programs, and other related bodies

• UN funds and programs are established by the General Assembly and have a specific purpose. Examples include the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Development Program (UNDP), and World Food Program (WFP).
• UN peacekeeping operations

3.UN Peacekeeping missions

• First mission was established in 1948.
• The United Nations currently operates 12 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, with more than 80,000 personnel from over 100 countries.
• Security Council responsible for them
• “Traditional” peacekeeping involves implementing cease-fire or peace agreements; however, in recent years, the Security Council has increasingly authorized “multidimensional” operations in complex and insecure environments where there is little peace to keep and no clear outcome.
• Peacekeepers may be required to protect civilians, disarm violent groups, monitor human rights violations, or assist in delivering humanitarian assistance.

How Is UN Peacekeeping Funded?

The three basic principles of peacekeeping include consent of the parties, impartiality, and nonuse of force

• The approved budget for the 2022-2023 peacekeeping fiscal year is $6.45 billion.
• UN members fund UN peacekeeping through assessments based on a modification of the UN regular budget scale, with the P-5 countries assessed at a higher level than for the regular budget due to their role in authorizing and renewing peacekeeping missions. Historically, the Security Council has authorized the UN General Assembly to create a separate assessed account for each operation to be supported by member states’ contributions. Since 2019, due to concerns about budget shortfalls, the General Assembly has pooled peacekeeping funding to allow for increased financial flexibility.
• Costs vary considerably among the 12 current peacekeeping mandates, with four of the missions in Africa making up about 70% of the overall peacekeeping budget.
• These include MINUSMA (Mali), at $1.24 billion; UNMISS (South Sudan), at $1.11 billion; MINUSCA (Central African Republic), at $1.07 billion; and MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of the Congo), at $1.03 billion.
• (On June 30, 2023, the Security Council voted to terminate the mandate of MINUSMA [Mali] due to the host government no longer consenting to the mission. The United Nations plans to withdraw its personnel by December 31, 2023.) 

Who Are UN Peacekeepers?

• Some UN members, often referred to as “troop contributing countries” (TCCs), voluntarily provide military and police personnel for each mission.
• Peacekeepers are paid by their own governments, which are reimbursed by the United Nations at a standard rate determined by the General Assembly (about $1,428 per soldier per month)
• As of July 31, 2023 (latest available), the top TCCs included
• Bangladesh (7,279),
• Nepal (6,299),
• India (6,097), and
• Rwanda (5,943).
• The United States contributes 35 peacekeeping troops and police. 

Among other P-5 members, China contributes the most troops (2,277), followed by France (597), the United Kingdom (282), and Russia (76).

Challenges

A key challenge facing UN peacekeepers & peacekeeping continued allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by some UN peacekeepers. 

For nearly three decades, UN member states and UN secretaries-general have adopted reforms aiming to respond to the issue, including 

• Implementing a zero-tolerance policy;
• Public reporting of SEA rates by mission;
• Creating new UN positions to address SEA;
• Establishing a UN trust fund to help victims;
• And repatriating full contingents when there is “credible evidence of widespread or systemic” abuse committed by that unit.

Despite these and other efforts, incidents continue to be reported; for example, in September 2021, the UNSG repatriated 450 Gabonese troops deployed to MINUSCA following credible abuse allegations. 

A 2023 report by the UNSG also noted that SEA allegations continue to emerge. The United States has generally supported UN efforts to combat SEA, with Congress linking U.S. funding to progress addressing the issue.

4.What Other Types of Organizations Are in the UN System?

• Several other UN bodies, referred to by the UN system as “UN entities,” do not fall under the categories described above. These entities include the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Depending on the organization, their heads are generally appointed by the UNSG or elected by the General Assembly. Other organizations, often referred to as “related organizations,” are part of the UN system but are not considered UN bodies; they may have special agreements with or report to principal organs like the General Assembly or the Security Council. Examples include the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 

Entities within the UN system may 

• Set international standards on various matters;
• Provide humanitarian and development assistance to populations in need;
• Monitor human rights situations; adopt sanctions; and
• Establish peacekeeping missions, among other activities.

5.What Are Key UN System Activities and Coordinating Mechanisms?

Peace and security

• Peacebuilding operations, promote disarmament, rule of Law
• Many of these activities are coordinated or implemented by the UN Secretariat’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations.

Development

• More than 30 UN entities, referred to as the “UN Development System,” provide economic and social development assistance in 162 countries and territories.
• Work as part of UN “Country Teams” (UNCTs) that coordinate development and other U.N activities with host governments and local communities.
• UN bodies also collectively work to implement the aforementioned UN Sustainable Development Goals
• The UN Development Program (UNDP) is the lead UN entity mandated with addressing global development issues.

Human rights

• UN members and entities aim to address and monitor human rights situations through several mechanisms, including the 47-member intergovernmental
• UN Human Rights Council, which adopts resolutions and appoints independent experts to address certain human rights situations, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the council’s administrative body, which includes 19 regional and standalone offices worldwide.
• Several global human rights treaties and agreements also operate under the umbrella of the UN system.

Humanitarian assistance

• Conflict, natural disaster
• UN entities support displaced populations with emergency food, water, shelter, health services, and protection.
• Key humanitarian entities include UNHCR, WFP, and IOM.
• In 2022, the UN system aimed to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to 183 million people across 63 countries.
• UNOCHA, Global Humanitarian Overview, 2022. UN entities may also mobilize financial resources. The UN global humanitarian funding appeal in 2022 was for $41 billion.

6. How is the UN system funded?

Article 17 of the UN Charter requires each UN member to contribute to the expenses of the organization.

Each body is funded through assessed or voluntary contributions from UN members (or a combination of both).

Types of funded

Assessed Dues

• Assessed contributions are required dues, the payment of which is a legal obligation accepted by a country when it becomes a member. The UN regular budget, UN peacekeeping, and UN specialized agencies are funded through assessed contributions.
• The UN regular budget, UN peacekeeping operations, and UN specialized agencies are funded mainly by assessed contributions, although some of these entities also receive voluntary funding.

UN regular budget               

• Total = $3.4 billion in 2023.
• Top assessed contributors
• US assessed contribute 22% of the regular budget ($697.8 million in FY2022 dollars)
• China       15.25%
• Japan        8.03%

UN peacekeeping operations

Funded through annual assessments based on a modification of the regular budget scale, with the P-5 assessed at a higher level than for the regular budget

Countries with the highest assessments include the 

• United States (26.94%),
• China (18.68%),
• Japan (8.03%), and Germany (6.11%) 

UN specialized agency

• Each UN specialized agency agrees to its own financial structure and budget, including scale of assessments.
• When determining assessment levels, some agencies follow the assessments for the UN regular budget, while others use formulas based on their own criteria. For example, the U.S. assessment for WHO, which has a funding structure similar to the regular budget, is 22% in 2023. In contrast, the U.S. assessment to WIPO, which is a largely self-financing entity, is 6.5%.
• Each UN body has its own payment timeline and system for defining and tracking arrears, which are generally outlined in the organization’s constitution, statutes, or financial regulations. In the United Nations, under Article 19 of the UN Charter, a consequence of accumulating arrears is the loss of voting rights in the General Assembly.
• The General Assembly negotiates a scale of assessments for the regular budget every three years based on a country’s “capacity to pay.” The Assembly’s Committee on Contributions recommends assessment levels based on gross national income and other economic data, with a minimum assessment of 0.001% and a maximum assessment of 22%.

Every three years, the committee reviews the scale and, based on instructions from the Assembly, recommends revisions in the scale for the next three-year period.

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Shortfalls

• Some observers have expressed concern regarding the ongoing funding shortfalls for the UN regular budget and UN peacekeeping. In a March 2019 report to the General Assembly, and in subsequent annual statements, UNSG Guterres noted the “deteriorating financial health” of the United Nations. He stated that these challenges were not only the product of UN member state “payment patterns and arrears,” but also “structural weaknesses” in UN budget methodology. At times, these funding shortfalls have affected UN operations.

Voluntary dues 

• Voluntary contributions finance UN funds, programs, and other entities.
• Governments provide voluntary contributions to UN entities at their discretion.
• Such contributions may fund the core budgets of some UN organizations, as well as special UN funds, programs, and offices.
• Many UN entities, such as WFP, UNDP, and UNICEF, depend on voluntary funding; consequently, their budgets may fluctuate from year to year.
• contributions will be made during each budget cycle
• UN entities that received the most voluntary contributions in 2021 (latest available data) were WFP ($9.0 billion), UNICEF ($6.7 billion), UNDP ($4.8 billion), and UNHCR ($4.19 billion).

7. What is UN reform?

Many member states have sought to institute management reforms, generally focused on four areas of concern: (1) perceived inefficiencies and lack of accountability in the UN Secretariat; (2) duplication and redundancy of UN mandates, missions, and programs; (3) perceived ineffectiveness of UN bodies; and (4) evidence of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of UN resources.

These efforts tend to be cyclical, with members considering waves of new reform proposals every 5 to 10 years. 

The reform attempts are often initiated by a member state, groups of member states, or the UNSG.

8. What Are Obstacles to UN Reform?

Each member state has its own political agenda and foreign policy goals, and may also have its own priorities for UN reform. Consequently, member states often hold different views on how best to implement reform and how to evaluate the success or failure of a given reform activity. 

For instance, many reform debates in the General Assembly, which often include management and personnel issues, have drawn attention to fundamental differences among some member states, particularly between developed and developing countries. Developed countries, many of which contribute the largest percentage of assessed contributions to the UN regular budget, would like the UNSG to have greater flexibility and authority to implement reforms, specifically those related to staffing and human resources. Developing countries generally object to policies that may enhance the power of the UNSG but decrease the power of the UNGA, which comprises all member states (including the Group of 77, or G-77, an influential voting bloc made up of more than 130 developing countries and China).

Competing priorities

Instead of considering a large series of reform proposals that are often watered down to appease all UN members, some observers contend that member states should select a smaller number of reform priorities and work toward their effective adoption and implementation.

Organizational structure

• The UN system is a highly complex and decentralized organization, and therefore may be slow to consider or implement potential reforms.
• Some experts assert that some UN managers and staff are resistant to the implementation of new programs or changes to existing programs
• Many observers contend that some reforms lack clear plans for implementation, including deadlines and cost estimates.
• They stress that this overall lack of planning may affect the progress and ultimate success of reforms already implemented.

Resources

• A significant challenge for UN reform efforts may be the effective implementation of wide-scale management and other reforms within existing UN budgets (also referred to as “cost neutral” reforms)
• However, some experts maintain that money saved from other reforms (such as reviewing and/or closing existing UN mandates or consolidating business operations) could create a funding source for further reforms or UN activities. 

9.What Is the Reform Implementation Process?

Charter reform

• A charter amendment, which requires approval by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification of two-thirds of UN members (including the five permanent Security Council members), is rarely used and has been practiced on only three occasions.
• The Charter was first amended in 1963 to increase Security Council membership from 11 to 15, and ECOSOC membership from 18 to 27. It was last amended in 1973, when ECOSOC membership increased from 27 to 54.
• Article 108, which states that a proposed amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly and be ratified “according to the constitutional processes” of two-thirds of UN member states, including all permanent members of the Security Council.
• Examples of possible reform initiatives that might involve amending the UN Charter include, but are not limited to, increasing permanent and/or nonpermanent Security Council membership, increasing membership on ECOSOC, and adding or removing a principal UN organ.
• Article 109 allows for a convening of a General Conference of UN members with the purpose of “reviewing the present Charter.” The date and place of the conference are to be determined by a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and an affirmative vote from any nine Security Council members. Potential Charter revisions are to be adopted by a two-thirds vote (with each country having one vote) and to take effect when ratified by the governments of two-thirds of UN member states.
• A Charter review conference has never been held

Non-Charter reform

• Include General Assembly action or initiatives by the UN Secretary-General,
• More common and easier to implement

10.What Is the Status of UN Security Council Reform?

• Over time, many observers have expressed concern that the council takes insufficient action on certain peace and security issues.
• In 1993, the General Assembly established an open-ended working group to address the issue.
• Over the years, consultations and discussions have continued over various aspects of Security Council reform with little, if any, agreement. Key areas of discussion include
• (1) increases in the number of permanent members;
• (2) increases in the number of nonpermanent members;
• (3) the status of new permanent members, including extension of the veto to such members;
• (4) continuation of the veto; and
• (5) Limits on veto use.
• Reform discussions have increased during the past two years, due in part to some UN members’ objections to the Security Council’s lack of action regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. The United States has generally supported enlarging Security Council membership (both permanent and nonpermanent).
• In September 2022, President Biden reiterated U.S. support for such enlargement and specifically cited the importance of not only providing “permanent seats for those nations we’ve long supported” (Germany, Japan, and India) but also “for countries in Africa [and] Latin America and the Caribbean.”52

How is UN structured?

Rule

During the past decade, conflict, natural disasters, and global humanitarian and health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine, have renewed concerns about the role and effectiveness of some UN bodies in addressing current and future global challenges.

11. How Successful Has the UN Been in Maintaining International Peace and Security?

• Based on the idea of liberal institutionalism
• where multilateral institutions are to facilitate inter-state cooperation,
• The mandates range from protecting civilians to supporting state-building efforts, a list that has become more extensive in its attempt to improve the strategy towards sustainable peace.
• There is no mention of peace operations in the UN Charter, and the concept of peacekeeping has adapted in line with shifting nature of war and understanding of security, leading up to today’s multidimensional peace operations.
• Traditionally, the presence of UN forces was to be approved by all parties in the host country, they were to be impartial, lightly armed, with the main goal to maintain a truce.
• The peace has indeed been kept between states such as Israel-Syria or Iraq-Kuwait, indicating the success of UN deployment for preventing interstate conflict.
• With the increase of intrastate wars in the 1990s however, conflicts had become more complex, requiring a more complex response
• the UN intended to bring the major military powers together with the main task of maintaining international peace and security
• Despite a period of inaction during the Cold War, many UNSC resolutions have also been passed to support peace processes, solve disputes, respond to illegitimate uses of force and enforce sanctions in situations where peace and security has been threatened.
• Bosnia 1993, Afghanistan 2001, Anti-piracy resolution 2008
• the case of Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait in 1990
• where it condemned its action and authorized states to “use all necessary means” to stop the occupation,
• Such examples would challenge the realist assumption that there is an inherent collective action problem in international relations and the system of anarchy.

Criticism

• The UNSC has attracted vast criticism for upholding procedures that impede robust action in important situations where international law has been violated but the P5 disagree, such as in Syria
• As well as for keeping an outdated permanent membership and
• For being undemocratic
• In the mentioned example of Iraq 1990, the agreed resolution authorized a US-led military operation, but UN oversight was weak and the autonomy of US action as well as the lack of inclusion of supportive states outside of the Council in the decision-making process is one example that points to the undemocratic structure of the Council as well as the continued importance of powerful states during interventions, rather than the UN itself
• Furthermore, Security Council vetoes have not always managed to stop nations from proceeding with their endeavors, which was the case with the US’ invasion of Iraq, 2003. 

This shows that the individual interests of some states make them deviate from institutional constraints, pointing to flaws in the theory of liberal institutionalism that laid the basis for the UN. Such examples spark doubt about the credibility of the UN and UNSC and disrupt the balance that the composition of UNSC is to uphold, which is one important obstacle to its success in maintaining peace and security.

Bosnia

• Peacekeepers were deployed in situations where there was no peace to keep, and they encountered atrocities that put both them and civilians in danger, demanding greater military response.
• Their mandate therefore expanded and started bordering on enforcement, as was the case of Bosnia in the 1990s.
• One problem was the discrepancy between the expectations of the operations and the actual capabilities in form of manpower or resources, showing a political unwillingness to transform the operations to more robust ones). Bosnia was a clear example of the failure that can ensue when undertaking ad hoc responses to a situation that does not match the original mandate, as it might lead to the inability to perform the envisioned tasks entrusted upon peacekeepers as they are prevented by nation state reluctance. This shows the importance of broad member state support of missions in today’s complex conflict situations and the need for nations to be willing to adapt to challenges that might arise.
• Underlying UN peace operations is the ideal of a liberal democratic peace, which has been a further hindrance to success in some contexts
• Afghanistan is a telling example, where democratization, rule of law and economic restructuring was promoted (Saikal 2012: 219), showing a disregard for every state’s right to “choose its political, economic, social and cultural system” (UN Declaration 1965).
• The state-building efforts saw the quick establishment of governance structures based on Western ideals.
• It was a rushed affair that eventually failed as the government was neither representative nor accountable.
• Post colonialism offers a valid critique of the ideational dominance of Western values and understandings, and its failure to recognize imperialist tendencies in the vision that liberal peace is universally applicable and desirable (Nair 2017).
• Imposing structures in a top-down fashion can have important consequences in fragile situations where society is multidimensional.
• The conception of peace should not be equated with liberalism but rather promoted in a balanced effort through combined considerations for basic democratic principles with local understandings of governance. This is called hybrid peace building by authors such as Richmond (2009: 578). Only then will the UN enable long-term success as it would empower the local community through an inclusive bottom-up approach.

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Beyond Peacekeeping – Recognizing the Normative Power of the UN

• UN beyond peacekeeping, also Spread peace by spreading important norms that have ranged from expanding the security agenda to upholding a nuclear taboo.
• A telling example is the role of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). As authors such as Scott Sagan argue, norms embedded in the NPT shape “states’ identities and expectations and even powerful actors [become] constrained by the norms they [have] created.
• The NPT regime helped establish shared understandings of what was considered prestigious, legitimate or delegitimize and states thereby chose to disarm rather than be classified as rogue nations by the international community.
• It has also constrained both Russia and the US in their attempts to modernize their arsenals.
• Even in cases where the norm has been contested, such as when US recognized India as a nuclear weapons state, it never seriously challenged the core assumptions of the nuclear non-proliferation norm. Critics would disagree and argue that the accomplishments in the area of nuclear disarmament has been weak, as with collective security, but the UN’s efforts have evidently hindered armament and possible escalation, pointing to a major success for maintaining peace and security in the world.
• Beyond nuclear disarmament, there is also the shared understanding of illegitimate and legitimate uses of force.
• this shared understanding has enhanced the risks that an aggressor might face when “breaking” these norms, as the response from the international community can take the form of international condemnation, coordinated sanctions or even humanitarian intervention
• This last point particularly derives from the enhanced focus on human rights and human security within the UN, as well as the shifting nature of war after the Cold War
• The principles of sovereignty and non-interference came into question with the atrocities committed during intrastate conflicts such as in Rwanda and Bosnia.
• The “responsibility to protect” principle (R2P) was thereby born during the 2005 World Summit, which came to mean that all states have a responsibility to protect civilians from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes or crimes against humanity (UN 2020b). 

In cases where a state couldn’t or wouldn’t fulfil this function, humanitarian intervention by the international community would be legitimate. This is in line with the human security agenda that was promoted by the UN in the 1990s, as the security of individuals was to be prioritized over the protection of the state

Criticism

While it contradicts the thesis of realism with its focus on self-interested states, there have been debates on this new role for the UN and how successful it has actually been to use force to support human security objectives.

• One main criticism is about the questions of interpretation
• Who dictates when this responsibility is to be invoked?
• There have also been instances where unlawful intervention has been done in the name of R2P, such as in the case of Russia’s intervention in Georgia where they claimed to protect Russian citizens.
• However, the jointly accepted humanitarian intervention in Libya 2011 based on the R2P norm is an important example that illustrates how normative shifts driven by the UN can bring nations together to protect peace and security in the world.
• Both China and Russia agreed to humanitarian intervention, despite their traditional opposition to it, which stopped Qaddafi from proceeding with possible crimes against humanity.

Beyond operational successes, the fact that the international community has agreed to legitimize action to protect human beings as such rather than states, and that there is a general understanding that states should not stand idly by while atrocities are committed, remain two key achievement for the UN in the realm of peace and security.

12. Pakistan and United Nations Peacekeeping: Experiences and Opportunities

• The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations
• The first UN peacekeeping mission was deployed in 1948 during the Arab-Israeli war. Since then, the UN has contributed to 72 missions across the world,
• 14 of which are active today, with more than 100,000 field personnel.  
• There are more than 100 countries contributing to peacekeeping operations, with the bulk coming from South Asia.
• Pakistan, since its first peacekeeping mission in 1960 in the Congo, has participated in 46 UN missions with more than 200,000 troops and police.
• In the performance of these duties, 157 peacekeepers have lost their lives, including 27 Officers while many more have sustained debilitating injuries.
• To cope with modern day challenges of peacekeeping, Pakistan has developed an elaborate infrastructure of training and research facilities that are open to international participation. The unblemished performance and dedication of the Pakistani Blue Berets has been acclaimed not only by the leadership and populace of host countries but at all international forums.
• The UN peacekeeping has provided Pakistan and its army an inimitable opportunity to project its professionalism, commitment to global peace and security and sense of duty and sacrifice to the world.
• On the basis of six decades of peacekeeping in varied environments, Pakistan has made profound contributions to the evolution of peacekeeping doctrines, concepts and manuals.
• Its participation has also improved its diplomatic standing at the UN and other associated forums.
• Working with international armies has provided Pakistan with exposure to their systems and fostered friendship and understanding. The synergy created through joint training and operations augurs well for regional peace and cooperation.

Introduction

Today’s multidimensional peacekeeping  operations enable the political process; protect civilians; assist in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; support and help to organise elections; protect and promote human rights; and finally assist in restoring the rule of law.

• UN peacekeeping, a manifestation of a unique kind of global cooperation
• UN manage operations in the field by
• Legal and political authority of the UN Security Council (UNSC),
• The personnel and financial contributions of the member states and
• The support of host country(s)

Pakistan’s Contributions to UN Peacekeeping

• In the last 60 years, Pakistan has contributed 200,000 troops in 46 missions and 28 countries in virtually every continent.
• 157 Pakistani peacekeepers have lost their lives, including 24 officers.
• Pakistan accounted for about 10 per cent of the total casualties suffered by UN peacekeeping missions since its inception.
• In recognition of their bravery, 97 Pakistani peacekeepers have been awarded the highest UN accolade, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal.
• Despite its commitments to the ongoing fight against terrorism for the last 18 years, and deployment on its eastern and western borders, Pakistan presently deploys more than 5,000 troops to nine UN missions.
• It has the singular honour of being appointed to key peacekeeping positions, Special Envoy/Adviser to the UN Secretary General, Military Adviser at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Chief Military Observer, and Force and Deputy Force Commanders, among others.
• Pakistani contingents have played a decisive role in
• Normalising war-torn societies,
• Maintaining law and order and
• Enabling successful political transitions under volatile environments

Political 

• Peace building and enforcement as well as protection of other components of the UN and diplomats.
• Peaceful conduct of elections and referendums to restore democratic norms.
• Disarmament of thousands of rebels in multiple conflict zones under hostile environments.
• De-mining operations in the area spread over 125 square kilometres, mostly unmarked.
• Capacity building and training of the local police, armed forces and law enforcement agencies. 

Socio-Economic 

• Provision of free medical treatment to thousands of local patients.
• Rehabilitation and assistance in the functioning of various educational institutes.
• Vocational training provided to youth and ex combatants.
• Economic revitalisation and establishing rule of law.
• Flood relief, disaster management and construction of roads and other infrastructure.
• Engaging and empowering marginalised strata of society through female engagement teams.

A Supporting Edifice for Peacekeeping

• Pakistan has institutionalized pre-departure arrangements for its troop and has built an array of facilities to train and equip troops assigned to UN peacekeeping duties.
• To educate and train leaders and managers for international peacekeeping, stability and peace building, a Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) was established in the National University of Science & Technology (NUST).
• It was inaugurated by then-UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon on 13 August 2013.
• He praised Pakistan’s efforts, “I sense great confidence and hope here today, but the feeling that overwhelms me is gratitude. It is impossible to speak about the history of UN peacekeeping without highlighting such contributions of Pakistan.”
• The CIPS has an inclusive system of training for peacekeeping, peace building and stability and support operations.
• The institute focuses on research to find means to resolve conflicts without the use of force by means of negotiation.
• It also offers PhD programs for domestic as well as foreign students.
• To-date, 232 officers, including 22 female peacekeepers from friendly countries, have received training.
• Likewise, the Peacekeeping Training Wing of the School of Infantry & Tactics imparts physical training on various facets relating to field-based peacekeeping operations, in addition to central doctrines and precepts.
• A UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System is maintained in the form of a well-stocked training, weapons and equipment reservoir to meet varying UN standards.
• To date, the UN has conducted eight assessment advisory visits and four pre-departure verification inspections of different outfits in Pakistan, which received excellent approval ratings.
• To meet urgent UN demands, an infantry battalion and a field hospital have been placed at rapid deployment level under 60 days’ notice.
• In accordance with the UN mandate to increase the ratio of females in peacekeeping contingents, female engagement teams (FET) have been created.
• Despite cultural-religious barriers and family compulsions, a mandated 16 per cent ratio of females has been achieved and 86 female officers deployed in both the military and police.
• Pakistan was amongst the first countries to deploy FET in the Congo in June 2019.
• To extend support to new troops contributing countries (TCCs), Pakistan, as an experienced and renowned TCC, has shared its expertise with Kazakhstan, Turkey and Sri Lanka through peacekeeping training and guidance with the option of hybrid deployment.
• All these training institutions and centres regularly review and revise their curriculum, methods and modules in accordance with the latest UN thinking and requirements.

Genesis of Pakistan’s Peacekeeping Efforts

An overview of Pakistan’s peacekeeping missions in Latin America, the Balkans, West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia reveal its persistent commitment to international peace and security.

In these missions, Pakistani troops went beyond the call of duty to provide humanitarian assistance and in some circumstances even laid down their lives when rescuing people.

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UN Operations in Somalia (1992-95)

• In the early 1990s, due to fighting in Somalia, customary law temporarily collapsed.
• At the same time, a large proportion of the population suffered from famine during the civil war in the country. The first troops to enter the country included a Pakistani mechanized battalion in September 1992.
• Later, the size was increased to a brigade group.
• Pakistani peacekeepers were assigned the tasks of protecting air and sea ports and recovering unauthorized arms to ensure the safety of humanitarian efforts in the war-torn country.
• On 5 June 1993, Pakistani troops were tasked by the UN force headquarters to carry out an inspection of the weapon storage site of warlord Farah Aideed.
• They were ambushed en route by his followers who used children and women as human shields to prevent retaliation.
• The courageous Pakistani troops, in an extreme show of restraint, fought their way back while protecting the women and children.
• In the fire fight, 23 Pakistanis were martyred and 56 sustained injuries. Overall, there were 43 fatalities in Somalia.
• Pakistan’s effective handling of the security situation and escort of food convoys soon won the hearts and minds of the locals.
• These efforts resulted in the slogan, “Pakistan and Somalia Walla Walla”, which means Pakistanis and Somali are brothers.
• In October 1993, the Olympic Hotel incident took place, where 100 stranded US Special Services Group soldiers were rescued by the joint mission of American, Pakistani and Malaysian troops (Black Hawk Down).
• After eight hours of fierce battle, it was the courage and valour of the Pakistani troops that rescued the US soldiers, who otherwise might have perished.
• Major General Thomas M Montgomery, Deputy Commander of UN forces in Somalia, said that many of the soldiers survived because of Pakistani troops working in immensely difficult and dangerous combat circumstances. He also thanked the people of Pakistan and the army for sending such splendid troops.

UN Mission in Haiti (1993-97)

• In the aftermath of a military coup d’état against the elected government of President Bertrand Aristide, more than 10,000 people died of political violence and thousands of refugees migrated to neighbouring countries.
• In November 1992, the UN adopted a resolution condemning the coup and support for the Aristide regime, which returned to power in October 1994.
• The Pakistani Battalion Group restored peace and revived state institutions, in particular the Haitian police, which had been paralysed by the prolonged breakdown of a functioning government.
• This group played a significant role in the conduct of free and fair elections in the northern reaches of Haiti.
• The Blue Berets from Pakistan also provided assistance to repair and build roads, reconstructing schools and installing lights in parks and streets to facilitate night-time study.
• In acknowledgement of their efforts, a school was named ‘Pakistan School’.
• As a tribute to the dedication and contributions of Pakistani troops, the President of Haiti expressed the gratitude of his nation in the following words: “I express my deep appreciation and gratitude to the people of Pakistan, the Pakistan army and its valiant soldiers for their manifestation filled with utmost sincerity, friendship and solidarity.” 

UN Protection Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-96)

• In 1991, Bosnia joined several republics of the former Yugoslavia and declared independence, which triggered a civil war that lasted for four years.
• Bosnia’s population was a multiethnic mix of Muslims (44 per cent), Serbs (31 per cent) and Croats (17 per cent). The Bosnian Serbs, well-armed and backed by the neighbouring Serbs, laid siege to the city of Sarajevo in April 1992, which lasted for 44 months.
• Their prime targets were the Muslims and Catholic Croats.
• The UN mandate fell short of confronting Bosnian Serbs for fear of a strong reaction and focused instead on extending humanitarian assistance to the conflict in Bosnia.
• A 3,000-strong Pakistani contingent was deployed in 1992 and was tasked with stabilising the military situation by improving freedom of movement, providing protection and support to various UN agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs) engaged in relief work, and by coordinating humanitarian assistance for the besieged populace.
• The Pakistani contingent did exceptionally well in identifying, monitoring and protecting all ethnic and minority groups, refugees and displaced persons with utmost impartiality.
• They coordinated the relief work of UN agencies and both international and Pakistani NGOs.
• In addition, Pakistani troops provided food, medical-care, clothing and financial aid from their own resources to local communities, in particular orphans.
• The Bosnians as well as the international community praised the professionalism, devotion to duty and impartiality of the Pakistani troops. Even today, Bosnians hold Pakistan in very high esteem.

UN Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (2001-05)

• Civil war broke out in Sierra Leone in early 1991 between the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) with support from Liberia, Libya and government forces.
• The war lasted for 11 years, resulting in famine, breakdown of state machinery, migration of large numbers of refugees and 50,000 dead.
• The UN mission in Sierra Leone was deployed post the UNSC mandate of October 1999 to help implement the peace accord between the RUF and government forces.
• The mission faced stiff resistance, and in May 2000, the abduction of hundreds of peacekeepers compelled the United Kingdom to intervene militarily in its former colony.
• The success of the UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone owes significantly to Pakistani troops.
• After being abandoned by the Indian Contingent, a Pakistani brigade group was airlifted and performed diverse tasks like patrolling, disarmament and reintegration of rebels, establishment of medical camps and a ‘winning hearts and minds’ campaign.
• The Pakistani contingent, in particular, ensured law and order for peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2002.
• The spirit of goodwill generated by such acts can be judged from the fact that President Ahmed Kabbah of Sierra Leone often used to dine in Pakistani messes, where the former rebel commander was also a frequent visitor.

UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (1991-93)

• Peacekeeping operations in Cambodia were launched following the 1991 Paris Peace Accords.
• This was also the first occasion during which the UN had taken over the administration of an independent state, organized and run an election, as opposed to monitoring, and was responsible for promoting and safeguarding human rights.
• The Pakistani contingent formed part of a force of 15,900 personnel from 32 countries.
• Pakistani troops were assigned to a remote region infested with warring rebels.
• They carried out peacekeeping operations under heavy odds and forced the warring groups to surrender.
• Peacekeepers also undertook an extensive programme of humanitarian assistance to repair roads, dig wells and set up medical facilities besides ensuring peace in very difficult areas devoid of communication infrastructures.

UN Operations in Côte d’Ivoire (2004-till date)

• In 2002, a civil war broke out on the Ivory Coast, which split the country into a Muslim rebel-held North and government-controlled Christian South after renegade soldiers tried to oust President Koudou Laurent Gbagbo.
• The Pakistani contingent, comprising one infantry battalion, was deployed from 2004 till date.
• A notable contribution of Pakistani troops has been the peaceful conduct of the presidential elections in 2010.
• After the deterioration of the situation in Abidjan, Pakistani peacekeepers conducted an evacuation of the diplomatic community from the capital city.

UN Mission in Sudan (2005-11)

• The second Sudan’s civil war was an intense 22-year conflict between the central government in Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
• The war started in southern Sudan but spread to other places, including the Blue Nile region.
• Two million people died in this conflict and millions migrated to neighbouring states.
• The Sudanese government and the SPLA signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005, which ended the civil war and called for the creation of South Sudan in 2011.
• The UNSC resolution in March 2005 decided to establish a mission in Sudan to support the implementation of the agreement.
• The Pakistani contingent comprising an infantry battalion group with aviation support was deployed in Sudan in March 2005.
• The Pakistani sector was responsible for the Blue Nile state to ensure the protection of civilians and reconstruction of civic amenities in the civil war-torn country.
• The contingent, besides ensuring peace, also actively engaged in winning the support of locals by establishing free medical camps and providing food and other civic amenities.
• Pakistani Engineers also de-mined the area along the Ethiopian border, which, being unmarked, had caused numerous civilian casualties, by manual methods employing mine detection dogs.

Acknowledgement of Pakistani Peacekeeping Contributions

• Not just military personal but police officers also include in peacekeapers
• Women too, both in military and police, despite cultural-religious background
• Conduct of Pakistani peacekeepers has been exemplary
• Pakistani Blue Helmet performance has been lauded by both the UN leadership and world leaders.
• During his visit to Pakistan in 2013, then-UN Secretary General Ban said, “I was overwhelmed with gratitude for its role in aiding international peace and security. More than 100 countries contribute troops and police for UN peacekeeping missions. Pakistan is number One.”
• Recently, on 16 February 2020, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hailed Pakistan’s peacekeeping contributions, “Pakistan is among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping. It was inspiring to meet some of the brave women and men who are serving for peace around the world. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.” He further said, “I am in a love affair with Pakistan and its people”.
• Further back in history, Indonesia’s first president Sukarno and then-Chinese premier Zhou Enlai had also praised Pakistan’s peacekeeping role in the former colony with utmost admiration.
• Sukarno said, “It was because of Pakistani troops that Indonesia and Pakistan came closer, they were Pakistan’s best ambassadors.”
• The Chinese premier remarked, “The only example in UN history, when a military force had gone in, performed its role honestly and came out, was Pakistan’s military contingent.”

Conceptual Contributions to the Complexities of UN Peacekeeping

• Pakistan has played a leading role in intellectual forums and deliberations under the auspices of the UN in improving concepts, employment modalities and training related to UN peacekeeping.
• Based on its varied peacekeeping experiences, dispersed over six decades in diverse operational environments, Pakistan has drafted and revised many UN manuals, especially those relating to the battalion level.
• Role of CIPS at NUST also demonstrates Pakistan’s resolve to share its knowledge not only in peacekeeping, but also in conflict prevention.
• As President of the UNSC in 2013, Pakistan spearheaded initiatives that led to the adoption of one of the most significant and unique peacekeeping operations, termed the (Force) Intervention Brigade.

Rising Challenge

• Struggles to manage the increasing complexity brought about by the increased scale and scope of tasks contained in the UNSC mandate with the limited capabilities that are routinely available to meet those demands.
• To respond to these varied challenges, the UN Secretary General launched Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) on 25 September 2018 to re-focus peacekeeping with a more targeted mandate, to make operations stronger and safer as well as mobilise support for political solutions and better equipped and trained forces.
• This declaration aims to strengthen peacekeeping by spurring collective action by all peacekeeping stakeholders.
• Pakistan was the first country to sign this charter through its foreign minister who flew in especially for this purpose.
• The conceptual contours of A4P are the views proffered by Pakistan on 1 May 2017 at the First Session of the Fifth Committee of UN General Assembly. They are as follows:
• i. Ensuring the continued political commitment of all member states.
• ii. Bolstering triangular cooperation between troops contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat. Such cooperation must take place not only in the formation of its mandate, but also in their implementation, review, renewal or change, especially in case of any rapid deterioration of the situation on ground.
• iii. Protection of civilians, where mandated, remains critical. Clearly defined mandates would make this task easier. The goal of protecting civilians is best served by preventing the outbreak of armed conflicts, addressing the root causes of conflicts and finding inclusive and lasting political solutions to the disputes.
• iv. Commensurate with their participation, representatives of the TCCs and police contributing countries at the leadership and senior level in the field and headquarters would provide them with another avenue to provide inputs.
• v. A capability-driven approach would enhance the effectiveness of missions. Professional well-trained and well-equipped peacekeepers are at the core of this approach, and the strengthening of partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations are critical.

Geo-Strategic Imperatives

• Projection of a peace-loving nation, which strives to promote security and the world order.
• Project its ‘soft power
• Promoted the image of Pakistan, but have also helped dispel many misperceptions of Pakistan and its people during the aftermath of 9/11 from the propaganda and lobbying of hostile powers.
• Peacekeeping has also contributed to the international image of Pakistani society, and its norms, culture and value system.
• Participation in UN Peacekeeping operations is now a tenant of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
• Participation in UN peacekeeping missions provides a suitable opportunity to Islamabad to gain visibility in the international arena
• A soft way of demonstrating the country’s image as a responsible member state of the United Nations and upholding the UN Charter.
• Participation in UN operations, despite its commitments in ongoing anti- terrorists operations, has helped Pakistan demonstrate its commitment to international peace and security.
• UN peacekeeping also enhances Pakistan’s diplomatic profile at the UN, thus helping it to forestall various moves to protect its security and diplomatic interests.
• Active participation in peacekeeping also reciprocates in kind the unresolved issue of Jammu & Kashmir and the deployment of the UN Military Observers Group in India & Pakistan, where only the Pakistani side has freedom of movement.
• There is also a degree of informal peer pressure and competition from the South Asian countries to contribute peacekeepers and from the UN Secretariat to stay the course as a ‘committed contributor’.
• Peacekeeping operations have also had a positive impact on a regional level.
• It is interesting to note that while India and Pakistan are often at loggerheads, they have operated amicably together in many UN missions.
• Peacekeeping missions have also provided Pakistan, in general, and the army in particular, a forum to showcase their capabilities in a positive way.
• Employment in UN peacekeeping operations has eulogized the image of the army both domestically and internationally and has also provided financial benefits to the recruits.
• To the members of the armed forces and police, UN missions provide unique international exposure that allows them to work together with multinational forces and staff.
• This facilitates education in the latest skills in conflict management and post-conflict stabilisation operations.
• These operations have also provided the military international experience in emergency medical and engineering services, aviation, de-mining and other essential techniques.
• It is also an opportunity to operate with foreign militaries, understand their systems and procedures and foster a friendship.
• Pakistan’s participation in UN peacekeeping also has the potential to open new avenues for exposure to more robust non-UN peacekeeping missions.
• For example, Pakistan was the only non-European country that contributed 1,000 troops in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-led Implementation Force in Bosnia.
• UN peacekeeping is fraught with uncertainties and challenges but also bears opportunities in the projection of the Pakistani military’s ‘soft image’, and the country’s diplomatic and political clout and in building commercial ties.
• In Pakistan’s case, one neglected aspect of its foreign policy has been that the goodwill created in host nations by the Pakistan army through UN peacekeeping has not been translated into diplomatic, political and even commercial bonds. Most of the countries where peacekeepers have been employed have remained an uncharted pursuit.

13. India & its struggle to get Permanent seat in UN

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India will definitely get permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as there is a feeling in the world that it should get the position, but the country will have to work harder this time for it.

• The United Nations was formed around 80 years ago, five nations - China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States - decided among themselves to become permanent members of its security council, Mr. Jaishankar said.
• At that time, there were a total of around 50 independent countries in the world, which has over time increased to around 193.
• But these five nations have kept their control, and it is strange that you have to ask them to give us their consent for a change.
• The Union minister said India, Japan, Germany and Egypt have put forward a proposal together before the UN and he believes this will take the matter a bit forward.
• "But we must build pressure, and when this pressure increases...There is a feeling in the world that the UN has weakened. There was a deadlock in the UN on the Ukraine war and no consensus was reached in the UN regarding Gaza. I think as this feeling increases, our chances of getting a permanent seat will increase," he said.
• In June 2020, India was elected to the UNSC as a non-permanent member, winning 184 out of the 193 votes at the UNGA. This membership is for 2021-22. India was the only candidate from the Asia-Pacific category for the year 2021-22. This is India’s eighth stint at the UNSC. Previously, India had been a member in the years 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and 2011-12.

India has been trying to make its way into the list of permanent members of the UNSC but has not been successful. Despite India being a country with a huge population, a growing economy, and nuclear power, it is not a permanent member of the UNSC. 

G4 countries

India is one among the G4 countries (India, Germany, Japan, Brazil), which gives it an edge at becoming one of the permanent members of the UNSC. Given below is a list of claims raised by India to ensure its place as one of UNSC’s permanent members:

• India is the fastest-growing economy in the world.
• India has recently acquired the status of a Nuclear Weapons State.
• India is the second-largest in terms of population and the largest liberal democracy in the world.
• The country ranks high in purchasing power parity and is a huge contributor to UN Peacekeeping Missions. 

For India to become a permanent member, apart from garnering the minimum required votes from the other United Nations members, India would need to mend its way with all the UN countries in order to get the required votes.

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Roadblocks in Getting a Permanent Seat at UNSC

• Although it may seem like a simple process, it is made difficult by the objections of certain permanent members of the Security Council. China, in particular, has been blocking India’s push for a permanent seat at the Council. China believes that granting India a permanent seat at the UNSC will lead to Indian interests being of paramount importance in the geopolitics of the subcontinent, a sentiment echoed by its ally, Pakistan.
• In addition to this, India is also seen as a proliferating nuclear power. Analysts believe that this is the single most factor that is being a roadblock for India’s UNSC dreams.
• To grant it a permanent seat without asking for any steps to cap its nuclear capabilities is an exercise in futility. As of late 2019, France has become the latest to join other nations in pushing for India’s permanent UNSC seat, but with the permanent 5 members obstinate about India having to give up its nuclear capabilities to join, India being a permanent member of the UNSC seem like a distant dream.

How did China acquire a permanent seat in the UN Security Council?

The United Nations Security Council’s permanent members consisted of the victorious Allies of World War 2 who had played a key role in defeating Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. At first, the seat was given to the anti-communist Kuomintang Government of the Republic of China. In 1949, however, the Communist-led rebels under Mao Zedong won the Chinese civil war. This led to the fall of the Kuomintang Government, forcing it to be relocated to the island of Taiwan. Since the Communist Government claimed to be the sole representative of China, the remaining members thought it would be prudent to allow the new Chinese government to become a permanent member on account of its vast army and support from the Soviet Union.