The theme of a UN Security Council reform has been on the table for the past 20 years. This reform aims to be participative and inclusive in order to guarantee a more balanced representation in the UN’s executive decision-making body, a relic of the power balance after World War 2.
Numerous propositions have been submitted during the last years. Among the ones that were most heavily discussed, one can include the one submitted by the G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India and Japan) that proposes to enlarge Council membership to 25 members, 11 of whom being permanent. The African Union on the other hand, has been continuously arguing for a better representation of the African continent.
Nevertheless, many States expressed their anxiety regarding a Council reform, worried that a more collegial Council might make it more difficult to reach a consensus. This hesitation between legitimacy and efficiency represents a crucial dilemma within the current reform process.
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