Analysis of UNSC Problematic Veto Yielding Power
Issue 10. January 2014 (Safar 1435 H.)

Abstract:
The role of the United Nations Security Council is to maintain international peace and security. However, in the past few decades, concerns have arisen over the Council’s legitimacy and representativeness. Ad-hoc coalitions and the usual unilateralism undermine the legitimacy of the Council, while the Council’s lack of structural change since the Second World War highlights its unrepresentativeness. The need to reform the Security Council has been widely discussed, but proposals for reform have been rejected and marginalized. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision to decline its seat in the Security Council reflects its concerns and apprehensions over the structure and methods of the Council. This issue of Masarat will provide a brief history of the establishment of the Security Council, its structure, perceived shortcomings and failures, proposals for its reform, and Saudi Arabia’s stance on the issue of Council membership.