United Nations Security Council

Issue

   The United Nations Security Council has important and essential duties in managing global affairs, though the organization has failed to properly handle certain situations in the past.

Annual Military Training

   To improve upon their overall effectiveness, all five primary members of the Security Council should be required to conduct military exercises together on an annual basis. This will encourage greater cooperation among its members that will result in a more effective military force. Doing so will improve the handling of global matters with all five ensuring the safety of the international community (e.g., preventing piracy near the African coastline, among others).

Demerit System

   All members of the Security Council are expected to maintain a higher level of standard than other nations since they represent a higher authority for the international community.

   If a particular member happens to misbehave or conduct themselves in an immoral or unethical manner, a demerit system should be implemented to ensure that higher standards are being met by all its members. If the number of demerits exceeds a certain threshold limit then that nation should be temporarily dismissed until they are able to reestablish themselves once again. If they fail to do so in a reasonable amount of time then the dismissal will be final and they will be replaced by another that is willing to become a primary member.

   Examples of earning a demerit may be: dereliction of duty (not participating in an approved measure), humanitarian rights violations (both domestically and internationally), failure to uphold certain morals as a nation (excessive pollution, unfair trade practices), etc.

   By having a demerit system in place, the Security Council will be required to hold themselves to a higher standard that ensures that the international community is represented by ethically responsible members.

Nuclear Weapons Restriction

   The Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty was established to prevent the possibility of nuclear war between nations. However, the treaty as it exists today may not be enough to prevent nuclear war from occurring since any nation may withdraw from it at any time, making the accord ineffective.

   Perhaps, a better policy would be to restrict the situation even further so that only the five primary members of the Security Council may have nuclear weapons. Other nations may complain that it would leave them at a distinct disadvantage, but there are other ways to develop an advanced military than the use of nuclear weapons (e.g., stealth technology, laser weapons, robotics, space-based delivery systems, etc.).

   For example, since the non-proliferation treaty became active, both India and Pakistan have developed nuclear weapons as well as North Korea, Israel, and possibly Iran. The current treaty as it exists today is ineffective at discouraging nations from developing nuclear weapons, which places the world at risk.

   The reason why only Security Council members should have nuclear weapons is because such weaponry may be necessary to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to the world. For example, if another nation was using a facility deep underground to develop weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons may not be enough to collapse the structure in order to make it inoperable. A limited nuclear strike may be necessary to eliminate the site, for an effective Security Council resolution.