Using quantitative text analysis, we examine how pre-vote speeches relate to veto use and the language of adopted resolutions in the United Nations Security Council (1946–2024). Vetoed drafts faced less positive debate than adopted resolutions. Vetoing permanent members tend to take the side of the debate opposite the draft’s sponsors. Speech by speech, Global South speeches are as close to adopted resolutions’ wording as permanent members’ speeches. When longer speeches count for more, permanent and elected members’ speeches are closer; they also speak more around adopted resolutions. Results inform policy debates on reducing inequality among countries (Sustainable Development Goal 10).
Matsuoka et al. (Sun,) studied this question.