Garnering 184 votes out of the 192 votes India won the election for the non-permanent seat in the prestigious United Nations Security Council (UNSC) along with Ireland, Mexico, and Norway. For the 8th time, India will be becoming a part of the UNSC for 2021-22.
Crux of the Matter
Starting from 1st January 2021, India will begin its two-year term at the UNSC which is responsible for maintaining world peace and ensuring security. Previously, India has been a part of the UNSC 7 times as a non-permanent member for the years 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and 2011-2012.
Structure of the UNSC The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations comprising of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. It was created after World War II to address the failings of the League of Nations. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America having veto power are the permanent members. The remaining 10 members are elected by the United Nations General Assembly on a regional basis with five replaced each year to serve a term of two years. A retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election and to be approved a member must receive at least two-thirds of all votes cast for that seat. The regional distribution of seats is as follows: 5 for African and Asian states; 1 for the Eastern European States; 2 for the Latin American and Caribbean States; and 2 for Western European and other States.
Curious Case of China The idea of a UNSC was first cemented in 1942 when during the Second World War, the US, Soviet Union, the UK, and China signed a short document known as the United Nations Declaration. And after the end of the war in 1945, the UNSC was formed with the four states along with France. In 1949, a communist revolution changed the leadership in China and the older leadership, headed by Chiang Kai-Shek had escaped to modern-day Taiwan and established the Republic of China (ROC). And the new communist leadership controlled all of Mainland China, thus establishing the People’s Republic of China (PRC). From 1949 to 1971, ROC continued to represent China at the UNSC. And the US or its allies did not recognize PRC as a legitimate state.
India At The UN India, a founder-member of the UN, is one of the fastest-growing economies and the world’s largest democracy with 1.3 billion population. Over the years India has significantly contributed towards the UN’s endeavors in support of international peace and security. PM Jawahar Lal Nehru always believed that the UNSC could emerge as a medium of resolving interstate conflicts. In order to replace China, India was offered a permanent seat at the UNSC, each by US & USSR but PM Nehru declined the offer both the times saying he did not want India to get embroiled in hazardous Cold War conflicts and become a pawn in the superpowers’ great game risking its own security.
India was certainly entitled to a permanent seat in the security council but it would be dangerous for this to come at the cost of China. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Former Prime Minister, India
Though this decision did not harm us initially, its effect was visible once China started cornering India and misusing its veto power. India – the world’s largest democracy, home to over 15% of the world’s population, and possessing nuclear weapons – has taken a global leadership role numerous times to champion the concept of ‘peaceful co-existence’ making it the least questionable and most deserving to be incorporated as a permanent member. Over the past decades, different countries have vouched for India’s permanent seat and India has garnered support from countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Australia, and Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, etc. UNSC reflects a post- World War II framework that has become obsolete and India’s case for permanent membership is a veritable interest in the changed geopolitics of the 21st century. India’s contribution to the working of the UN has been substantial and despite being a founding member of the UN, the permanent membership has always remained elusive.
Curiopedia
The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). The other 5 are – the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the UN Secretariat.
UNSC held its first session on 17 January 1946. Although the Security Council was largely paralyzed in its early decades by the Cold War between the US and USSR and their allies, the Council generally was only able to intervene in unrelated conflicts.
China’s seat was originally held by Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Government, the Republic of China. However, the Nationalists were forced to retreat to the island of Taiwan in 1949, during the Chinese Civil War. The Chinese Communist Party assumed control of mainland China, thenceforth known as the People’s Republic of China.
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