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Introduction

As the UN marks 80 years, its failure to sustain peace in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza exposes deep flaws in the Security Council’s post–World War II design. The UNSC struggles to manage today’s multipolar crises. Strengthening its conflict-resolution capacity now demands pragmatic functional reforms over structural debates.

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Major Challenges within the Current UNSC Framework

• Lack of Political Continuity: The UNSC often reacts to crises but fails to sustain engagement once violence subsides.
  Eg: The UN loses “continuity, context, and momentum” once peace negotiations fade.
• Veto Paralysis and Power Imbalance: Permanent members frequently use their veto power to protect geopolitical interests, which blocks consensus and undermines neutrality.
• Weak Institutional Coordination: Peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions often operate without an integrated political strategy, leading to fragile and temporary stability.
  Eg: Peacekeeping stabilises ground conditions but is “seldom equipped with a political strategy.”
• Limited Mandate for Political Engagement: The Peacebuilding Commission lacks the authority to intervene effectively during active political transitions, leaving a void between mediation and reconstruction.
• Erosion of Trust and Relevance: The UNSC’s repeated failures to sustain peace have eroded its credibility as a neutral global institution and weakened confidence in multilateralism.

Functional Reforms to Strengthen the UN’s Role in Long-Term Conflict Resolution

• Creation of a Board of Peace and Sustainable Security (BPSS): A UNGA body can ensure post-conflict political continuity and preserve institutional memory.
• Integrating Peacekeeping with Political Strategies: Field missions should be tied to governance, inclusion, and long-term dialogue to convert ceasefires into sustainable stability.
• Enhancing the Role of Regional Organisations: Involving regional actors like the African Union or ASEAN makes peacebuilding more contextual and credible.
• Institutionalising Political Accompaniment: Regular monitoring and continued dialogue after ceasefires can prevent conflicts from reigniting.
• Leveraging Article 22 for Functional Reform: The UNGA can invoke Article 22 to form new bodies without waiting for Charter reform or UNSC consensus.

Functional Reforms to Strengthen the UN’s Role in Global Governance

• Ensuring Representative and Rotating Membership: Balanced participation from all regions in new institutions such as the BPSS can make global governance more inclusive and credible.
• Reducing Dependence on Permanent Membership: Replacing permanent seats and veto powers with elected, time-bound representation would democratise decision-making.
• Institutionalising the Idea of Sustainable Security: Peace, development, and governance must be treated as interconnected goals to ensure long-term global stability.
• Promoting Cooperation Over Coercion: The UN should serve as a facilitator of dialogue rather than an enforcer, ensuring sovereignty is respected while maintaining accountability.
• Embedding Long-Term Policy Continuity: Mechanisms to preserve institutional memory and knowledge transfer can help the UN sustain reforms and adapt to evolving global challenges.

Conclusion

The UNSC’s post-1945 structure is ill-suited to today’s dynamic world. Functional reforms like the proposed Board of Peace and Sustainable Security can link conflict management with political stability. Strengthening inclusivity and regional cooperation can restore the UN’s credibility as a global anchor of peace.

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