Reforms of the United Nations’ Security Council to Ensure Equity and Efficiency: An Argument for Selected Emerging Countries' Inclusion

In recent years, policymakers and analysts have called for the UN Security Council to undergo reform as soon as possible to better reflect the current world system and modern realities. The legitimacy, fairness, and efficiency of the Council have been questioned because some academics argue that unless the Council is restructured to consider the geopolitical realities of the modern international system and recent shifts in world politics, its credibility is at risk. This study critically examines the need for reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to align with the changing global power structure of the 21st century. Created in the aftermath of World War II, the current composition of the UNSC disproportionately favours a few permanent members, marginalising emerging powers and underrepresented regions such as Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. This imbalance has raised questions about the Council’s legitimacy, accountability, and ability to address modern global security challenges. To contribute to this discussion, this paper considers some emerging countries applying for permanent membership in the UNSC, assessing their contributions to the UN and using those contributions to support their eligibility.