Whitaker Institute member Professor Ray Murphy, of the Conflict, Humanitarianism and Security cluster, has written a new article for RTÉ Brainstorm. The piece explores the effectiveness of the UN’s Security Council amid Ireland’s bid for a seat.
Why does Ireland want a seat on ‘dysfunctional’ UN Security Council?
A seat at the big table: members of the UN Security Council discuss Syria in April 2018. Photo: Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE
Opinion: the Irish Government will learn tomorrow if the bid for a seat on the UN Security Council has been successful
At a critical time for the UN and its Security Council, elections for five non-permanent members of the Council will take place tomorrow (June 17th). The Security Council is the most powerful of the UN organs and it has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. However, it has come to symbolise the dysfunctional nature of the UN in recent years.
This year, Ireland, Canada and Norway are contesting two available rotating seats currently held by Belgium and Germany. Although the criteria for appointment are based on the contributions to the maintenance of international peace and to the other purposes of the UN, equitable geographic distribution has come to play a major role in reality. Continue reading…
