Authored By: Diptesh Chakma
Bangladesh University of Professionals
Abstract:
Though global peace cannot be achieved entirely, the main purpose of the UN is to ensure that another bloodshed like World War 2 never happens again. UNSC, one of the organs of the UN, is responsible for taking care of global peace and security. P5 of the UNSC is considered major powerhouse of global economy, security and politics. When UN was formed people hoped that these global giants would work together. However, post-World War II showed different pictures. As cold war tension rose, the world got divided into two parts; US bloc and Soviet bloc. During this time the world faced civil wars, regional conflicts and severe human rights violations. Extensive usage of Veto power by these powerful states led to global chaos which violated the purpose of the UN charter.
Keywords: UN, UNSC, World War II, Peace, UN Charter, Security, Cold war, Veto
Introduction:
After the horror of World War II, the world needed some balance so that in near future the world could prevent such events from happening again. Major powers took initiative, cooperating with each other, to create United Nations Security Council.1 The major allied power wanted some power where they would have the role to decide in global issues. As a result, in 1945, at San Francisco conference veto power was introduced as a part of the UN charter.2The importance of UNSC became very important before it was fully effective, however, in 1960’s people were losing faith in it as UN was struggling during the civil wars, conflicts, and political tensions across the globe.3
The veto power was given to P5 so that they could work together but the matters turn out the opposite as the world entered the cold war when political and ideological tensions began between United Sates and Soviet Union.4
Historical Background of Veto:
From the Latin term Vetare which means to prohibit, veto signifies the power to block or prohibit or reject any decision.5 This power became significant to United Nations. After learning from the mistakes of the League of Nations, the major powers wanted a new world order where they would have the power to maintain peace and security and Soviets choose not to oppose it if UN respected the ‘sovereign equality’ idea that did not interfere too much in a country’s domestic affairs.6 Very first UN charter gave veto power to four countries and later France was added.7 This veto power gives any of the countries to prohibit any action or resolution even if other four agrees.8The permanent members of Security council use veto power not only to protect their own interests or policies, but also to promote a singular issue related to a state.9 The first veto was used by Soviets in 1946 and the subject matter of the veto was withdrawal of foreign troops from Syria and Lebanon and since then Soviets casted veto 293 times.10
The Role of Veto Power:
Veto power is like double edge sword. It is important for global stability but sometimes a source of institutional paradox. However, the importance of veto power lies in its ability to give P5 members to block any resolution which may lead to a global conflict. The UNSC is the main organ of United Nations which looks after world peace and security.11 Consisting of fifteen members, five permanent and ten members, UNSC is responsible for decisions and actions, such as sanction imposition, treaty mediation, and authorization of the use of forces.12 However, only the P5 members have veto power. It was believed that veto power would help to establish world peace as the then major power reached an agreement.13 The idea behind it was that it would prevent the council from harming relations among each other.14 Every time P5 members cooperated with each other, UNSC succeeded in achieving global peace.15
Criticisms of the Veto Power:
Most of the time UNSC members do not cooperate with each other. Many states believe that P5 uses veto power to protect their allies and their own interests, which may lead to human rights violations.16 For example, USA used its veto power to block a draft which demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where 14 out of 15 members of UNSC agreed to it.17 Veto power can be referred to as barometer of global division.18 Veto power is like a necessary evil. Veto power is needed for global power balance and peace. But when UNSC works as one and does not use veto power that also establishes peace. A clear example of this is American led action against Saddam Hossain in 1991.19 So, the more veto power is used, the more it shows the division among P5 states on the matter of international politics. The history of world politics supports this as number of usage of Vetoes peaked during the cold war; from 1946 to 1981.20 During this time the world faced international political turmoil and ideological clashes between West and East. Despite the Veto power being created to optimize the tensions among the major states, the nature of it became a hurdle to achieve the goals of United Nations.21 One might say that this system have prevented major world conflicts like World War III, however, its negativity is effecting the benefits.22 The Israel Palestine issue is a clear example of it.
Reformation:
Reformation of Veto system is nearly impossible. To reform the veto system UN charter needed a formal resolution under Article 108 of the UN charter where 2/3 vote is needed including the P5 members. However, it is most likely that the P5 members would give up their power. Due to the Veto system’s explosive nature and misuse, the non-Veto members often get harmed.23 Very often the P5 members violate human rights by influencing regional conflicts, ignoring demand of ceasefire and the council failed to investigate such issues against Veto powered states.24
One of the concerns of the current system is that, due to the nature of the Veto system African nations often get overlooked. Despite being second largest continent of the World, not a single country from Africa holds veto power. Even if Veto system cannot be reformed some states from Africa should be given equal opportunity.25 Moreover, UN should create a new system for funding, peacekeeping and security so that UN can less depend on UNSC.26 A new principle ‘responsibility not to veto’ can be introduced which would limit veto limit in cases of mass atrocities.27
Several Countries have highlighted that the rule from the last century is not relevant in modern world during UN debate in November 2023.28 Moreover, former UN General Assembly President called for a structural reform to increase the Council’s effectiveness.29
Conclusion:
UNSC is one of the councils of UN that is responsible for world peace and security. However, the Veto power given to P5 of UNSC Article 27 of the UN Charter sometimes get misused. Since the establishment of UN, veto power has been used extensively by its users. P5 members often use veto power for their own benefit. We must remember that Veto power was introduced so that major powers do not conflict with each other. But the extensive use of veto power shows that there is a lack of collaboration among the P5 states which indicates global division in terms of politics and ideology. As we know that it is nearly impossible to rule out veto power entirely, we still must look for alternative reformation of the system for the sack of global peace and security.
Bibliography:
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1Peter Wallesteen and Patrik Johansson,’ Security Council Decision in Perspective’ in David Malone(ed) The UN Security Council: From the Cold War to the 21st Century (International Peace Academy,2004) 2 Better World Campaign, ‘UN, Explained: The History of the United Nations Security Council Veto’ https://betterworldcampaign.org/peace-and-security/un-explained-the-history-of-the-united-nations-security-council veto accessed 27 November 2025
3Mats Berdal (2003) ‘The UN security council: ineffective but indispensable’, Survival, 45(2), pp. 7–30. 4 Wallesteen (n1)
5 Thomas Schindlmayr, ‘Obstructing the Security Council: The Use of the Veto in the Twentieth Century’ (2001) 3 Journal of the History of International Law 218.
6 Augusto Lopez-Claros, ‘The Origins of the UN Veto and Why it Should be Abolished’ (Global Governance Forum, 28 April 2022) https://globalgovernanceforum.org/origins-un-veto-why-it-should-be-abolished/ accessed 27 November 2025.
7ibid
8 Marion Fernando, ‘History of veto power: How UNSC member states utilised it’ (TRT World, 22 April 2024) https://www.trtworld.com/article/17877022 accessed 27 November 2025.
9 Security Council Report, ‘The Veto’ (UN Security Council Working Methods, 13 February 2024) https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-security-council-working-methods/the-veto.php accessed 27 November 2025.
10 Security Council Report, The Security Council Veto (Research Report, 19 October 2015) https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-
CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/working_methods_theveto-7.pdf accessed 28 November 2025.
11 United Nations Security Council, ‘Security Council’ https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en accessed 29 November 2025.
12 Theo Aldrighi, ‘Restrictions on Veto Power: Holding the Permanent Five Accountable in the Face of Intervention and Peacekeeping Operations’, (2025) 2(1) Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics, and World Affairs https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1101&context=dujpew accessed 28 November 2025.
13 ibid
14 Jan Wouters and Tom Ruys, Security Council Reform: A New Veto for a New Century? (Egmont – The Royal Institute for International Relations, Egmont Paper 9, August 2005)
15 Gareth Evans, The Responsibility to Protect: Ending Mass Atrocity Crimes Once and for All (Brookings Institution Press 2008).
16 Wouters (n14)
17 UN Security Council, Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution Calling for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza, Owing to Veto by United States (Press release SC/16078, 4 June 2025) https://www.un.org/unispal/document/un security-council-fails-to-adopt-resolution-calling-for-permanent-ceasefire-in-gaza-owing-to-veto-by-united-states/ accessed 30 November 2025.
18 James Gibney, ’Darkest Hour of UN’ Bloomberg ( 23 September 2018)
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-09-23/the-united-nations-and-u-s-disengagement-under-trump access 29 November 2025
19 Aldrighi (n12)
20 Gibney (n18)
21 Blessing Nneka Iyase and Sheriff Folami Folarin, ‘A Critique of Veto Power System in the United Nations Security Council’ (2018) 11 AUDRI 104.
22 ibid
23 ibid
24 Peter Calvocoressi, World Politics Since 1945 (9th edn, Pearson Longman 2009)
25 Iyase (n21)
26 ibid
27 Better World Campaign (n2)
28 Fernando (n8)
29 ibid
