Publisher's Synopsis
Demands from UN member states for a more representative, legitimate and transparent Security Council have led to a formal debate on the reform of the UN's most important organ. Both the expansion and working methods of the Council are under review in an internal working group originally set up in December 1993. But now, on the eve of the 50th General Assembly, the working group is faced with a paralyzing conflict of views: while reform is taking place on Security Council working methods, there is little consensus on expansion of the membership.;This paper provides an overview of the debate, analyzes its content and assesses its usefulness. While many hope that expansion of the membership will be agreed by the end of the UN's 50th anniversary year, this author questions whether such an expansion will have the desired effect. The paper outlines the models for reform already suggested by several of the member states, and makes proposals that may ease the current deadlock.
