In the name of democracy: UNSC reform at the intersection of discourse and governmentality

Abstract

Both scholars and practitioners are frustrated by the complexity of United Nations Security Council reform. Most research on the reform process is situated within international relations, and almost no attention is granted to the discursive dimensions of the reform. This article approaches democracy promotion as a governmental rationality within the United Nations, and it traces how this governmentality is co-constituted and negotiated discursively in the reform debate. The analysis focuses on argumentation and topoi in statements from debates about reform during 2015 to 2016 by two groups: The Group of Four and The Uniting for Consensus. The analysis demonstrates how the two groups utilise a topos of majority and a topos of equality, respectively, and how the groups thereby in different ways co-constitute and negotiate the governmental rationality of democracy. Through this, the article unravels the subtle ways in which the rigidity of the reform process is co-constituted through discourse.

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM: new approaches to understanding and unlocking the gridlock

“…Playing by these rules allows actors to remain within the debate, whereas overt breaches, for example, Holocaust denials or, as recently, a statement in the GA by Russian foreign minister Lavrov, lead to de facto exclusion via attendees' walkouts (dis). 3,41 When reform concerns change within the system and not of the system at large, it appears to play into the hands of the reactionary actors, that is, those that want to prevent effectful reform or minimise the scope of potential reform. These actors are often those who possess power within the current system (e.g., the P5).…”

“…On the other hand, Stein's assessment accurately describes the motives and agency of the reactionaries-those who want to prevent reform but acknowledge the need to speak into and alongside dominating discourses about the need and support for reforms (dis). 3 The LIO incorporates both those who want to see reforms as well as those who oppose reform. This tension inhibits reform progress when it comes to i Russia currently being ousted from the large parts of the international market as a result of its agression towards Ukraine.…”

“…Additionally, some countries seek to prevent these sub-power countries from obtaining increased presence/influence-mainly the G4 countries' regional rivals, a group of circa thirty countries that have rallied behind Italian/Pakistani leadership in the coalition known as the UfC (Uniting for Consensus) (dis, soc). 3,[16][17][18] A handful of other coalitions play important roles in the UNSC reform discussion as well, namely the L69 group and the African Group/African Union; coalitions that want to see the Global South increasingly represented and, in particular, increased African presence on the council. 14 (p43) The mentioned actors' (geo)political motivations materialise in reform proposals concerning the make-up of the council (structural reform) and how it operates (working methods reform).…”

“…2 Structural reform is what many perceive to be the real reform issue, and it is also the most sought-after reform type among UN member states (rev, dis, pro). [2][3][4]19 However, changes in the council's working methods are not merely sideline issues in the reform debate. Such reforms are seen by some member states and an increasing number of scholars as being feasible and therefore preferable, or feasible and preferable (rev).…”

“…The second article: In the Name of Democracy: UNSC Reform at the Intersection of Discourse and Governmentality (dis), 3 is a co-authored piece. It presents the following argument: Democracy discourses and governmentalities are significant devices within the reform debate regarding how the reform coalitions construct and present their agendas as democratic/promoting democracy.…”