Recreation of the United Nations: Why the World Body Needs a Second Founding

Context

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said the UN’s institutions, built for a post-war world, are “not fit for purpose”. India, with Brazil, Germany and Japan (the G4), continues to demand a permanent Security Council seat and text-based reform negotiations.

Background: UN Structure and Barriers to Reform

1. Founding: The UN began in 1945 with 51 members and now has 193 (United Nations, 2024).
2. Principal organs: These are the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council (now dormant), International Court of Justice and Secretariat.
3. Security Council: It has five permanent members with veto power and ten elected members who serve two-year terms.
4. Article 108: Amending the Charter needs two-thirds of the General Assembly and two-thirds of members, including all five permanent members.
5. Ezulwini Consensus (2005): The African Union wants two permanent seats with veto and five non-permanent seats.
6. G4 proposal: India, Brazil, Germany and Japan seek permanent seats and better working methods for the Council.
7. Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN): This is the General Assembly’s reform track, which has stayed at framework discussions without a negotiating text.
8. Our Common Agenda (2021) and Pact for the Future (2024): These set out Guterres’ “UN 2.0” plan and 56 actions on peace, SDGs, digital cooperation and finance.

Challenges posed by outdated UN structure

1. Outdated representation: The Council reflects 1945 power balances, leaving Africa, Latin America and South Asia without a permanent voice.
2. Veto paralysis: Russian vetoes on Ukraine and US vetoes on Gaza show how one member can block action on mass atrocities.
3. Reform deadlock: Article 108 lets the permanent members block any change that dilutes their privileges.
4. Sovereign equality undermined: Article 2 promises equality of states, yet a few members can override the majority, which breaks the UN’s own founding principle.
5. Liquidity crisis: Delayed payments by major contributors have forced cuts to peacekeeping missions.
6. Stalled financial reform: The IMF’s 16th quota review (2023) did not shift voting power meaningfully towards emerging economies.
7. Weak say in global crises: Developing countries suffer most from pandemics and climate shocks but have limited influence in climate finance and other decisions.
8. New frontiers unaddressed: AI, cyber norms and outer space lack dedicated frameworks, and the Global Digital Compact (2024) is non-binding.
9. Bureaucratic inertia: Fragmented mandates slow the UN’s response to fast-moving emergencies.
10. Rise of minilateralism: Groupings like BRICS, the Quad and the G20 signal a preference for clubs over universal bodies.
11. Terror listings: Listing terrorists under the UNSC 1267 regime is slow and politically constrained, which hurts India’s counter-terror diplomacy.

Implications of UN reforms

1. Stronger fight against terrorism: China blocked India’s attempt to list Masood Azhar as a global terrorist for years, until 2019. A permanent seat would give India more weight in such decisions.
2. Recognition for India’s work: India is among the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping, yet it has no permanent say in planning missions.
3. Faster action in crises: Russia’s veto on Ukraine and the US veto on Gaza have blocked UN action. A reformed Council could reduce such blocks.
4. Fairer voice for developing countries: Africa has 54 countries but no permanent seat. The African Union’s entry into the G20 in 2023 shows that inclusion is possible.
5. More money for development: Developing countries need about USD 4 trillion more every year to meet the SDGs (UN SDG Report, 2024). A fairer UN could help raise it.
6. Bigger responsibility: A permanent seat would need more diplomats, experts and funds for India to play the role well.
7. Risk of slower decisions: Countries such as Pakistan and Italy fear that adding more permanent members will make the Council harder to run.
8. Risk of no real gain: China has not clearly backed India’s bid, so India may wait many years or get a seat without veto power.

India’s initiative for UN reform

1. MEA diplomacy: India’s Permanent Mission pushes for text-based negotiations in the IGN (MEA Annual Report, 2023-24).
2. G20 Declaration (2023): It secured permanent G20 membership for the African Union, which India cites as a model for UN reform.
3. Voice of Global South Summits (2023, 2024): They bring developing countries together to build a common reform agenda.
4. Peacekeeping: India has long been among the largest troop contributors to UN missions.
5. SDG India Index (NITI Aayog, 2023-24): It tracks state-level SDG progress and shows India’s delivery record.

Way Forward

1. Ask for a written draft: UN reform talks have run for years without a draft text. Without one, countries have nothing to negotiate on.
2. Gather enough votes: Changing the Charter needs about two-thirds of the 193 members. India should team up with Africa, the Caribbean and small island nations.
3. Reassure doubters: India can support middle options, such as longer-term elected seats, to win over countries that oppose new permanent seats.
4. Limit the use of the veto: In 2022, the General Assembly decided to hold a debate whenever a veto is used. This can be strengthened without changing the Charter.
5. Make global finance fairer: India should press the IMF and World Bank to give developing countries a voting share that matches their economic size.
6. Show results at home: UPI and the SDG India Index (NITI Aayog) show that India can deliver, which strengthens its case as a model for the Global South.
7. Keep up the effort: A permanent team in the Ministry of External Affairs can keep the campaign going across governments.

Conclusion

Recreating the UN is not about dismantling it but about restoring its legitimacy for a changed world, where Africa, Latin America and South Asia need a permanent voice. India should turn the Global South’s weight into reform through coalitions, a negotiating text and credible SDG delivery at home. A reformed UN would anchor a rules-based order, while an unreformed one risks becoming a relic of 1945

FAQs

Q1. What is the UNSC veto?

Ans: The veto is the power of the five permanent members of the Security Council to block any substantive resolution, even if every other member supports it.

Q2. What is the G4?

Ans: The G4 is a group of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, formed in 2005.

Q3. What is the Ezulwini Consensus?

Ans: It is the African Union’s common position on UN reform, adopted in 2005. It demands two permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats for Africa.

Q4. What is the Pact for the Future?

Ans: It is an agreement adopted by UN members in 2024 on peace, sustainable development, digital cooperation and reform of global governance.

Q5. What is Article 108 of the UN Charter?

Ans: Article 108 sets the procedure for amending the Charter that needs a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of members, including all five permanent members.