Can Elected Members Make a Difference in the UN Security Council? Australia’s Experience in 2013–2014

The UN Charter gives the Security Council the extraordinary function ofbeing responsible for international peace and security. Although the PermanentFive members are disproportionately powerful, there is neverthelessscope for elected members to influence the Council's decision-makingprocesses during their short two-year terms. This article uses Australia'smembership in 2013 and 2014 as a case study to examine why states seekelection to the Council, means through which they can strengthen their influence,how they can navigate PS power, how successful they are inachieving their objectives, and how the effectiveness of both electedmembers and the Council as a whole could be improved. Despite the substantialconstraints facing elected members, those that are imaginativeand industrious can nevertheless make influential contributions toachievement of the Council's purposes.