Muslim States and Reform of the United Nations Security Council

Abstract

This article explores reform of the United Nations Security Council and the response of the Muslim-majority member states seeking greater participation in the organization. A variety of models and plans for Council reform have emerged since 2000. Within this debate, Muslim-majority member states have focused on the restriction/ abolition of the veto, the inclusion of Egypt and Nigeria as permanent African/ Muslim representatives, and instigating the procedural reforms. Despite this sentiment, the reform process has led to inter-state rivalry among these states and confusion about the best path to progress. As a result, there is little promise for Muslim states in gaining an increased level of participation in the Council. Muslim ambitions are hindered by an inability of these states to coordinate a unified reaction; inter-state rivalry; the reticence of existing Council members to approve permanent Muslim membership; the relatively weak bargaining position that these states hold in the negotiations, and the tendency for many to support one of the different reform models, some with mutually-exclusive perspectives.