Elected Members of the Security Council: Lame Ducks or Key Players?: Lame Ducks or Key Players?

Conventional wisdom has it that the successful functioning of the UN Security Council almost completely depends on the role played by its five permanent members and the extent to which they can agree—or avoid to fundamentally disagree—on the many issues on the Council's agenda. But the Council also consists of ten non-permanent or elected members who represent five different regions of the world, and who, though not vested with the right of veto, play an indispensable role in Council decision-making. This book aims to take a closer look at that role. It considers what role is foreseen for the elected members in the UN Charter, how this evolved in practice, and what “tools” they can deploy. It also considers whether there are particular “niches” for the elected members on the Security Council, such as engaging in conflict prevention, taking initiatives on rule of law issues and debating the potential effects of climate change on peace and security. Can elected members serve as agents of the international community and norm entrepreneurs? Should their position be strengthened, and if so, how? This collection was born out of a dynamic research seminar held at Leiden University, which also drew on the experiences of former elected members. This book thus offers unique insights from both practice and scholarship, and is an indispensable tool for politicians, diplomats, academics and students alike. Elected Members of the Security Council: Lame Ducks or Key Players? 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Foreword 10 Acknowledgments 12 List of Abbreviations 13 1 Introduction 16 Part I: Elected Members: Law and Practice 26 2 Non-permanent Members of the Security Council: A Charter Perspective 28 3 Elected Members Today: Overcoming the Handicaps 57 4 Campaigning for an Elected Seat in the UN Security Council 71 5 More Non-Permanent Members? On the Need for a Second Enlargement of the Security Council 86 Part II: Elected Members: Inside and Outside Experiences 98 6 Pursuing Peace and Justice on the Security Council: The Canadian Experience 100 7 The Role of Elected Members on the UN Security Council: The New Zealand Experience 2015-16 114 8 The Dutch Approach of Promoting the International Rule of Law and Constructive Multilateralism on the Security Council 126 9 Belgium in the UN Security Council: Responsibility Without Power? 148 10 Representing the European Union at the United Nations: The Security Council Dimension 168 11 Serving on the Security Council: More Like Playing Poker than Like Chess 191 Part III: Niches for Elected Members 196 12 What Kind of Rule of Law Should Elected Members Promote? 198 13 Elected Members and Agenda-Setting: The Security Council as Peace Broker 212 14 Managing the Ebb and Flow of Sanctions Reform: An Important Role for Non-Permanent Members 232 15 The Office of the Ombudsperson and the Elected Members of the Security Council 252 16 Environmental Peacebuilding and the UN Security Council 263 17 Non-Permanent Members of the Security Council and International Criminal Justice: A Proposal for Revitalization 282 18 Working from the Outside to Change the Working Methods of the Security Council: Elected Members as a Bridge between the Permanent Members and the Rest of the UN Membership 294 About the Contributors 300 Table of Treaties 307 Table of Resolutions 308 Presidential Notes and Statements 310 Case Law 311 Index 312 "Conventional wisdom has it that the successful functioning of the UN Security Council almost completely depends on the role played by its five permanent members and the extent to which they can agree-or avoid to fundamentally disagree-on the many issues on the Council's agenda. But the Council also consists of ten non-permanent or elected members who represent five different regions of the world, and who, though not vested with the right of veto, play an indispensable role in Council decision-making. This book aims to take a closer look at that role. It considers what role is foreseen for the elected members in the UN Charter, how this evolved in practice, what "tools" they can deploy. It also considers whether there are particular "niches" for the elected members on the Security Council, such as engaging in conflict prevention, taking initiatives on rule of law issues and debating the potential effects of climate change on peace and security. Can elected members serve as agents of the international community and norm entrepreneurs? Should their position be strengthened, and if so, how? This collection was born out of a dynamic research seminar held at Leiden University, which also drew on the experiences of former elected members. This book thus offers unique insights from both practice and scholarship, and is an indispensable tool for politicians, diplomats, academics and students alike".-- Provided by publisher