Global powers that themselves violate international law sit in Security Council: Guterres
We have geopolitical divides, and in these geopolitical divides, we have powers that themselves violate international law and sit in the Security Council; that has been paralysing the Security Council, as we know, said António Guterres
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Context
The , António Guterres, strongly criticized the current structure of the (UNSC), arguing that global powers violating international law currently hold seats on the council. He emphasized that reforming the UNSC and the is an "absolute priority" to address geopolitical paralysis and reflect the modern multipolar world, noting that emerging powers like those in highlight the shifting global power dynamics.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity
The core issue highlighted is the democratic deficit within global governance structures. The was established post-World War II and reflects the power dynamics of 1945, granting veto power to the five permanent members (P5): USA, UK, France, Russia, and China. This structure creates a fundamental governance paralysis when P5 nations themselves are involved in conflicts or violate international law, as they can veto any resolutions against their interests. Guterres's critique points to the resulting culture of impunity, where nations feel emboldened to ignore international humanitarian and human rights law. For UPSC Mains, this underscores the urgent need for structural reforms, often advocated by groups like the (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan), to ensure the UNSC is representative, transparent, and effective in maintaining international peace and security.
Economic
The Secretary-General explicitly linked political reform to economic realignment by calling for changes to the . This system, established in 1944, created the (IMF) and the . These institutions are also criticized for reflecting outdated economic power, primarily favoring Western developed nations through their quota and voting structures. Guterres pointed out the growing disparity: the share of developing and emerging economies (like India and China) in global GDP is steadily increasing, while the influence of developed nations diminishes. The emergence of alternative institutions like the (NDB) by nations is a direct response to this lack of reform. This highlights a crucial UPSC theme: the intersection of geoeconomics and geopolitics, where economic power shifts must eventually lead to a redistribution of power in global financial institutions to maintain their legitimacy and effectiveness.
International Relations
Guterres’s remarks highlight the transition from a unipolar or bipolar world to a multipolar world order. The current multilateral institutions are struggling to manage these complex, fragmented geopolitical divides. The "paralysis" mentioned refers to the inability of the UN to act decisively in major contemporary conflicts due to P5 rivalries. This creates a vacuum in global leadership and crisis management. The rise of minilateral and plurilateral groupings (like or the ) can be seen as symptoms of this institutional fatigue within the UN system. For India, this narrative strongly supports its longstanding demand for a permanent seat on the UNSC and greater voting rights in the IMF/World Bank, arguing that without institutional reform, the UN risks becoming irrelevant in a multipolar era where alternative power centers are solidifying.