Key Highlights:
- Bold Proposal: Singaporean diplomat urges the UK to give India its UNSC seat.
- India’s Rising Influence: Justified by India’s population and growing power.
- UNSC Reform Debate: Proposal renews calls for global governance reform.
UN Security Council: In an interesting recommendation that has generated significant reactions among scholars in the field of international relations, a former diplomat from Singapore has urged the Commonwealth, particularly the UK, to hand over its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to India. This proposal comes from Kishore Mahbubani, a well-known diplomat and academic, who emphasizes that the geopolitical context is changing, and therefore the structure of the UNSC should also change to remain relevant.
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The Rationale Behind the Proposal
In his characteristically blunt views on world politics, Mahbubani argues that the current format of the UNSC is outdated and does not fit the modern global context. He notes that the council, founded in 1945, was designed to reflect the political order that existed after World War II. However, since then, the global balance of power has undergone a drastic transformation.
“India has a population of over 1.4 billion, it is the largest democracy in the world, and it has been gaining economic and military power—all of which perfectly justify why India should be a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Mahbubani recently told the press. He also emphasized India’s strong commitment to international order and its growing stake in global governance as important reasons for its permanent membership in the apex body.
In contrast, according to Mahbubani, since the mid-20th century, the role of the United Kingdom has become increasingly peripheral in international relations. While the UK remains a powerful nation on the global stage, its influence has declined compared to what it once was. The seasoned diplomat opines that the UK could, by voluntarily relinquishing its seat, demonstrate its commitment to making global institutions, especially the UNSC, more relevant to the present world.
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India’s Quest for a Permanent Seat
India has long advocated for a permanent seat on the UNSC, citing its growing economy, strategic importance, and engagement in global affairs as justification. The country has actively participated in UN peacekeeping missions and has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on various occasions. Indian leaders have particularly called for better representation of 21st-century society among the UNSC Permanent Members, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi summarizing the need for change as “Revised Multilateralism.”
Several countries, including the USA, France, and Russia, have recognized India as an important global power and have supported its bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC. However, reforming the UNSC is often seen as a daunting task due to the requirement of broad international consensus, particularly among the five permanent members: the US, UK, France, Russia, and China.
Implications and Challenges
Mahbubani’s proposal is bold and controversial. It challenges the traditional view of the UNSC as an immutable body that reflects the power structure of a bygone era. The suggestion that the UK give up its seat would require a major shift in attitudes not only within the UK but also among other permanent members, who might fear setting a precedent for further changes.
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Critics of the proposal argue that the UK’s permanent seat reflects its historical contribution to global peace and security, as well as its current role as a key diplomatic broker. Changing the permanent membership would require the approval of two-thirds of the UN General Assembly and the unanimous consent of the permanent members, making it a highly complex and unlikely process.
Furthermore, whether the UK or any other current permanent member would voluntarily give up its seat is debatable, given the enormous influence and prestige associated with it. While discussions on UNSC reform have been ongoing for decades, real progress has been minimal.
A Step Towards Reform?
Mahbubani’s suggestion has nonetheless injected new energy into the ongoing discussion about UNSC reform and the representation of nations on the world stage. It highlights the need for global institutions to adapt and transform to remain effective in an ever-changing global landscape.
For India, the proposal is yet another recognition of its emerging status as a global power and its rightful place in the management of world affairs. Whether the UK will take such a drastic step remains to be seen, but the debate opens the door for further discourse on the future of global governance and the role of emerging powers in shaping it.
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As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Calls for reforming the UNSC and making it more democratic are growing louder, and the pressure for change shows no signs of diminishing.
