The questionable UN Security Council is not just a crisis of one institution, but also a larger story of the erosion of global moral leadership. When the United Nations was born, the world was emerging from the ashes of World War II, and humanity collectively pledged to prevent any future major war. Central to that dream was the Security Council, envisioned as a guardian of peace, a guardian of global justice, and a cornerstone of collective security. But today, nearly 80 years later, as the world convulses with conflicts like those in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar, and the Sahel, this institution often stands silent.
This silence not only signifies helplessness, but also a structural weakness that has eroded its credibility over the years. When citizens around the world look to this institution for peace, it appears bound by geopolitical interests. This is why the greatest custodian of peace has itself become the subject of the greatest questions.
The biggest problem is the imbalance of power created by the veto. This power, concentrated in the hands of the five permanent members, empowers them to block any resolution, even one as essential as preventing a humanitarian catastrophe. This is why—whether it's the deaths of thousands of children in Gaza, the destruction of cities in Ukraine, or the dismantling of democratic institutions in Myanmar—the Security Council often appears paralyzed. It has become a doorway where millions of people stand, pleading for help, but the key to opening that door is held by a limited number of countries, which put their national interests above global peace.
The question then becomes—can peace be more important than the interests of a nation? Should people suffering from murder and hunger be left to die because of the geopolitics of a permanent member? Is the purpose of a global organization like the United Nations reduced to mere formal statements? These questions are becoming increasingly acute today, as media, civil society, and peace experts around the world increasingly feel that the UN's moral authority has eroded.
The second problem is the unrepresentative nature of this institution. The world has changed profoundly since 1945, but the UNSC's structure remains largely stagnant. Africa, a hotbed of conflict and a major contributor to peace, has no permanent representative. Even a large democracy like India, whose contributions range from peacekeeping to humanitarian assistance, has yet to secure permanent membership. This signals a global system disconnected from reality.
While the global power map has changed—China has risen, India has reached new heights economically and politically, Africa has become a continent of emerging possibilities, Latin America has become more politically assertive—the Security Council remains stuck in the mindset of 1945. As a result, many countries have come to view it as a mere relic of the “old order” rather than a “legitimate” one.
The third problem is the political failure of peacekeeping operations. UN peacekeeping operations have stopped violence in many places, but have failed to bring political stability. It is like painting the walls of a crumbling house but not repairing the cracks. Peace does not come simply by silencing the guns; it comes through dialogue, inclusion, governance reform, and building trust within society. But the UN system fails to integrate peacekeeping and political solutions.
For example, in many African countries, the deployment of peacekeeping forces was followed by a lack of political guidance, leading to a resurgence of violence shortly afterward. This failure is not just a matter of resources or capacity, but also of a lack of strategy.
The fourth problem is a lack of continuity. The UNSC often becomes active only at the beginning of a crisis, but then diminishes its presence as the situation stabilizes. This leaves conflict-affected countries teetering on the brink of political transition. This creates a “peace in limbo,” which often ends in renewed violence.
The fifth problem is the erosion of trust in the United Nations due to these failures. Today, there is a growing perception in the Global South that the Security Council has become a political battleground for certain countries. This is why regional organizations such as the African Union, ASEAN, the Arab League, and the European Union are strengthening their own security structures, and this trend is increasingly limiting the role of the United Nations.
All this begs the question—what is the solution? Does the UNSC need to be replaced or revitalized?
The answer is – both.
Structural changes to the Security Council are necessary—new permanent members, a review of veto power, regional balance—but even more essential are operational improvements. The UN General Assembly could compensate for the Security Council's weaknesses by creating new institutions under Article 22. An institution like the Peace and Sustainable Security Board could ensure political continuity, monitor post-conflict reforms, and ensure that peace is not based solely on ceasefires but on long-term political stability.
The role of regional organizations must also be enhanced, as they better understand local culture, politics, and ground realities. Peacekeeping operations must be integrated with political strategies to calm not just guns but also minds.
Most importantly, the UN itself must restore its moral credibility. This is only possible if it is capable of making timely, impartial, and bold decisions in humanitarian crises. It must move beyond a culture of mere rhetoric and become a truly enforcement-based peacekeeping mechanism.
Today, the world is grappling with fear, polarization, technological conflict, terrorism, water scarcity, and the threat of war. At such a time, the inaction of the United Nations is disappointing humanity. The questions posed to this foremost guardian of peace will only be addressed when this institution reinvents itself for the 21st century.
It is time for the world to demand back from the United Nations the role it promised to play 80 years ago—
Defense of peace, justice and humanity.

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