![Sample our Politics & International Relations journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5947/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Politics-International-Relations.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Since Germany joined the United Nations (UN) in 1973, it served six times as an elected member of the UN Security Council. The main aim of the article is to evaluate Germany’s latest term (2019–2020). What policy space can elected members occupy given the still unreformed Council? Germany is selected as a case study, because it is a pivotal regional power with the potential to exert significant influence on the Council. The article provides an in-depth overview of Germany’s performance and explores those conditions which shape and steer its positions as an elected member. Three conditions are particularly relevant: diplomatic capacity, the effective use of Council rules and procedures, as well as the ability to forge coalitions. As a regional powerhouse and adamant endorser of multilateralism, the expectations toward Germany are high, however, has the country lived up to them?
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 The German Democratic Republic (GDR) also served one term at the UNSC (1980–81) increasing the combined number of terms to seven.
2 Patrick, “The Unruled World.”
3 Gowan, “A Council of Despair?”
4 Mützenich. “Große Erwartungen”; Narlikar. “Deutschland im Sicherheitsrat”; Sievers, Möglichkeiten und Grenzen, 21–26.
5 For a detailed breakdown please visit: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/0079f636-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/0079f636-en.
6 Langmore and Thakur, “The Elected but Neglected,” 99–114.
7 Schrijver and Niels, eds. Elected Members of the Security.
8 Farrall et al., “Elected Member Influence,” 101–15; Vahid and Postolski, “Power and Diplomacy in the United Nations.”
9 Gifkins. “Beyond the Veto Roles,” 1–24.
10 Ibid.
11 Gaedtke.“Südafrika im Sicherheitsrat,” 35–48; Langmore and Farrall. “Can Elected Members,” 59–77. Olsson et al., Sweden as an Elected Member.
12 Prantl, “Informal Groups of Countries,” 569.
13 Christian and Coni-Zimmermann, „Einleitung: Halbzeit im UN,” 2–8.
14 Peter, “Between Doctrine and Practice,” 351–70.
15 Borger, “Curtains opened on UN security.”
16 UNSC, “Resolution 2429.”
17 See country statements at the 8465th Security Council meeting, February 25, 2019.
18 Kurtz, “An International Partnership,” 8.
19 AU-PSC 840th communiqué, “Addis Ababa.”
20 Gaedtke, “Südafrika im Sicherheitsrat,” 35–48.
21 AU-PSC 854th communiqué, “Addis Ababa.”
22 International Crisis Group, “A Tale of Two Councils.”
23 Gowan and Pradhan, “Why the UN Security Council.”
24 AU-PSC 927th communiqué, “Addis Ababa,” 18.
25 Druet, “United Nations Special Political.”
26 Security Council Report, “Resolutions on the UN/AU.”
27 UN Security Council, “Resolution 2524.”
29 UN Security Council, “Resolution 2009.”
30 Reuters, Merkel-“Uneingeschränkte.”
31 Koenig and Scheler. “Tip of the iceberg,” 3.
32 Kirkpartick, “The White House Blessed.”
33 Lacher, “Unser schwieriger Partner Deutschlands.”
34 Gowan, “Council of Despair?,” 5.
35 Koenig and Scheler, 4.
36 German Foreign Office, “Way to the Berlin Conference.”
37 Security Council Report, “Council Adopts Resolution.”
38 Data on peacekeeper fatalities are available from the UN: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/fatalities.
39 UNSC, “Resolution 2423.”
40 UNSC, “Security Council Press Statement.”
41 Security Council, “8497th meeting,” 5–6.
42 Security Council Report, “What’s in the Blue,”
43 Human Rights Watch, “How Much More Blood.”
44 Lacher, “Unser Schwieriger Partner Deutschlands,” 34.
45 Security Council Report, “What’s in the Blue.”
46 Security Council, “8547th Meeting,” 16.
47 Lacher, “Unser schwieriger Partner Deutschlands.”
48 Schmauder, “Searching for a Strategy.”
49 Security Council Report, “In Hindsight.”
50 Security Council Report, “What’s in the Blue.”
51 France and Germany started and presented the idea of an alliance for multilateralism when holding the twin presidency: https://multilateralism.org/stepping-stones/.
52 Policy statement by Scholz, “Chancellor of the Federal Republic.”
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Malte Brosig
Malte Brosig is Professor in International Relations at the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He joined the Department in 2009 after he received his PhD from the University of Portsmouth. His main research interests focus on issues of international organization interplay and peacekeeping in Africa.