Privilege in Multilateral Institutions

Abstract

This quotation from Paul Kennedy’s The Parliament of the Man refers to the constitutional arrangements of the UNSC, where the victorious powers of World War II sought to institutionalise their privileged position as primus inter pares among sovereign states. Permanent membership of the UNSC and the ability to veto resolutions potentially damaging to national interests is the exclusive privilege of China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. More than 60 years later, the Great Power status of every member is questioned, albeit on different grounds. Britain and France are better considered upper–medium powers rather than Great Powers in the twentyfirst century, as well as skewing the composition of the UNSC drastically in favour of Europe. Russia’s inheritance of the Soviet seat is justifiable through its possession of a considerable amount of the Soviet Union’s military capability. The necessity of the arsenal, coupled with only middling economic clout, are marks against it. China qualifies by population, geographic size, economic might and is developing ever more sophisticated military capabilities, but critics challenge the legitimacy of an authoritarian government wielding a veto, especially to prevent the UN fulfilling its obligations with respect to human rights (Gowan & Brantner 2008).

Small nations ought therefore to cease carping on about the unfairness of the veto and be grateful that the Great Powers were now going to take their international responsibilities seriously.

–Kennedy 2006: 29