Is it fair that 5 nations have permanent seats in the security council?

Question

Is it fair for a select group of nations (US, UK, France, China, Russia) to make decisions that affect the welfare of everyone. Why or why not?

We do pay most of the bill, but we are also the richest by a long shot. How fair is it to the world's poor who are probably most affected by UN's decisions?

Answer 1

No it is not, especially since they are the same members since the foundation of the UN, and in the case of France and the UK their position in the UN is in no way a reflection of their international stature, either economically or militarily. A fair solution would be to have the countries of every continent elect a member state for a certain period, where The Americas should have one seat each, an Australia should go with Southern Asia, there should be Northern Asia as well, the Chinese and the Russians could compete for that one.

The Second World war is long over, and no excuse for keeping the status quo indefinitely.

Answer 2

Well, since the 5 permanent members are 5 of the largest economies and 5 of the most powerful militaries.

Yes they probaly should keep thier veto power.

The Security council is 15 members.

So there are 10 other members nations who, while they cannot block a resolution by themselves individually, can and do submit , get changed and sometimes ban together and block resolutions.

Just to giove an example of what could happen if there was no veto power.

How soon do you think the security council would vote under article 7 to use force on the Israel/Palestinian question.

Now, what nations would they expect to use that force?

There is no nation or coalition of nations without the current 5 veto members, who have the ability to carry out such resolutions.

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The veto also makes the 5 large powers seek concensious on issues before a resolution can be passed.

Think what would happen, if there was no veto, and the security council voted to use force to expell Israel from the mideast.

China and Russia side with the non aligned nations to carry out the Security council resolution.

Since the US, would probally support Israel, more than likely britian and France would support Israel.

A simple resolution could turn into WW lll.

The veto power assures that, things like that will never happen.

Answer 3

It is fair & appropriate that major powers have permanent seats, but several of the permanent members are not Major powers. The US certainly is. UK probably belongs & China just due to it's population. France & Russia do not. France never did & Russia is a has been. Strong arguments can be made for India based on it's population & Japan based on it's economy. It can also be argued that UK should be replaced by the EU, although I oppose that.

Answer 4

Yes it is fair because those 5 nations saved the world from fascism in WW2 and those 5 nations are the ones that founded the UN. If someone wants to set up another organization like the UN they are free to do so, then they can have permanent seats on their organization.
What is not fair it that terrorist countries like Iran and Syria even get a vote.

Answer 5

interior the present situations that's extremely surprisingly no longer likely that India will shelter an eternal u.s. seat a minimum of for the subsequent 10 to fifteen years.The formalities in this regard would be an prolonged drawn out affair and is only no longer achieved everywhere for a decade a minimum of,by which era the excellent equation might substitute and interior of sight balances may be altered notably.So the respond to your poser is "might and then lower back won't". Have an Unambiguous Day.

Answer 6

Fair? No. But each of those nations is a major nuclear power. That is why they all have permanent seats and seek to prevent other nations from gaining similar status. Power politics in the purest form.

Answer 7

Fair? Perhaps not, but winners write the rules and the USA, England, France, Russia and China (at that time Nationalist) were the winners in WW II and they wrote the rules.

Answer 8

At least 2 of the 5 nations controled by Israel.

Answer 9

Yep. That is the rule when they set up the United Nations. Since we foot most of the bill for all the actions, we get the most say.

Answer 10

yes