What does this research mean for the field?

The UN Security Council veto power, encompassing both explicit Charter provisions and unwritten mechanisms such as the 'double veto' and 'indirect veto', is subject to unreasonable abuse by the permanent five members, complicating its original historical rationale for maintaining international peace. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to analyze the history and implications of the veto power exercised by the P5 in the UN Security Council.

June 6, 2026Open Access

The Veto in the Un Security Council: History,rationale, and (Ab)use

Key Points

The aim is to analyze the history and implications of the veto power exercised by the P5 in the UN Security Council.
Explored the voting regulations in Article 27 of the UN Charter.
Detailed various forms of veto powers not explicitly mentioned in the Charter.
Examined historical context behind the creation of the UN Security Council and the veto system.
Identified several types of vetoes, including double veto and meta veto, and their usage by the P5.
Discussed the impact of the unreasonable veto on international peace and security.
Highlighted the historical foundations that shaped the veto power system in the UN Security Council.

Abstract

The UN Security Council (UNSC) is the body endowed with the primary responsibility and powers to undertake collective action in order to “save future generations from the scourge of war”. Yet, the powers invested in the UNSC came with a caveat – each of the five permanent members (P5) of the Security Council would have a veto power regarding any proposed decision in this body concerning international peace and security. This paper deals with the UNSC veto – its history, justification, and the implications of its existence and (ab)use by the P5. In the first part of this paper, the voting in the UNSC, as regulated in Article 27 of the UN Charter, is explained and interpreted. Afterwards, the veto powers of the P5 are detailed, focusing on those veto powers that are not explicitly mentioned in the UN Charter (the socalled: “double veto”; “meta veto”; “behind the scene veto”, “reverse veto” and “indirect veto”), before delving into the history behind the creation of the Council and the veto in particular. Lastly, the paper turns to the idea of the “unreasonable veto”, or the (ab)use of the P5’s veto powers.

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