Security Council

One of the main organs of the United Nations. It is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security. For this reason, it is on alert for emergencies. Its main mission is to peacefully settle disputes or situations that threaten to disturb the peace, and to recommend or decide on enforcement measures against threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of aggression. In relation to this, it is responsible for drawing up arms control plans, implementing the decisions of the International Court of Justice, encouraging regional settlement of local disputes, authorizing regional enforcement actions, and supervising strategic areas (Article 24, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the UN Charter). In addition, in collaboration with the General Assembly, it is responsible for admission, expulsion, suspension, and appointment of the Secretary-General.

The Security Council is made up of 15 countries, 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent. The permanent members are the five major powers: China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA. Half of the non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every year for a two-year term, and cannot be re-elected (Article 23, Paragraphs 1 and 2). The criteria for selection by the General Assembly are, first, contribution to the purposes of the UN, and, second, equitable geographical distribution, but in practice, the second criterion has been given more weight. Voting is carried out by a simple vote of nine members on procedural matters, and by an affirmative vote of nine members "including the concurring vote of the permanent members" on non-procedural matters (Article 27, Paragraphs 2 and 3). In the latter case, if a permanent member votes against a resolution, the resolution will not pass, so it is called a veto, but conversely, if a "decision" (including enforcement measures) is made effectively, it will be binding on all member states (Article 25). Thus, the Security Council has strong powers, with the power to decide enforcement measures at its apex, but its effectiveness ultimately depends on the consensus of the major powers.

The Security Council was established with 11 countries, including 5 permanent and 6 non-permanent members. However, as the number of member states increased following decolonization, the number of non-permanent members was increased to 10 through an amendment to the UN Charter in 1963, resulting in the current structure (which came into effect in 1965). After the Cold War, in light of the changes in the international situation and the further increase in member states, the expansion of the Security Council, including an increase in the number of permanent members as well as non-permanent members, became an important issue in UN reform.

[Hisashi Uchida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

国際連合の主要機関の一つ。国際平和と安全の維持に関して主要な責任を負わされている。このため、有事即応の態勢に置かれる。おもな任務は、平和を破壊するに至るおそれのある紛争または事態を平和的に処理し、かつ平和への脅威、平和の破壊、または侵略行為などに対し勧告をし、または強制措置を決定することである。これに関連して、軍備規制計画の作成、国際司法裁判所の判決の履行、地方的紛争の地域的処理の奨励、地域的強制行動の許可、戦略地区の監督などを行う（国連憲章24条1、2項）。さらに、総会と共同して、加盟承認、除名、権利停止、事務総長の任命などを管掌する。

　構成は、5常任理事国と10非常任理事国の計15か国からなる。常任理事国は、中国、フランス、ロシア、イギリス、アメリカの五大国である。非常任理事国は、総会が毎年半数を選挙し、任期は2年、再選は許されない（23条1、2項）。総会での選出基準は、第一に国連の目的に対する貢献度、第二に衡平な地理的配分であるが、実際には第二の基準に比重がかけられてきた。表決は、手続事項については単純に9理事国の、非手続事項については「常任理事国の同意投票を含む」9理事国の賛成投票によって行われる（27条2、3項）。後者の場合、常任理事国が反対投票すれば決議が成立しないことから拒否権というが、逆に有効に「決定」（強制措置を含む）が行われれば、すべての加盟国に対し拘束力をもつ（25条）。このように、安全保障理事会は強制措置の決定を頂点に、いちおうは強力な権限を有するが、その実効性は究極において大国の一致にかかる仕組みである。

　安全保障理事会は、当初5常任理事国と6非常任理事国の計11か国で発足した。しかし、非植民地化に伴う加盟国の増大とともに、1963年国連憲章改正により非常任理事国を10か国に増員し、現行体制となった（1965年発効）。冷戦後は、国際情勢の変化と加盟国のさらなる増大にかんがみ、非常任理事国のみならず常任理事国の増員を含む安全保障理事会の拡大が国連改革の重要課題となっている。

［内田久司］

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