THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL VETO AND ITS IMPACT ON CONFLICT-RELATED RESOLUTIONS (1990–2022)

The veto power of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), entrusted to its five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), has been both a stabilising mechanism and a persistent obstacle to effective conflict resolution. This paper systematically reviews scholarly and policy-based research published between 1990 and 2022 to examine the impact of veto use on conflict-related resolutions. The review addresses three guiding questions: how veto usage affects the Council’s effectiveness, how scholars interpret the balance between great power interests and collective security, and to what extent informal processes or reform proposals counterbalance permanent member dominance. The analysis reveals four major themes: (1) the dynamics of power and influence within the Council, (2) debates on veto reform, (3) the role of technology versus political negotiation in maintaining peace, and (4) the Council’s handling of humanitarian crises. Findings suggest that while vetoes consistently delay or weaken responses, informal negotiations, alternative mechanisms, and advocacy by non-permanent members can still exert meaningful influence. However, the persistence of veto deadlock undermines the Council’s legitimacy and highlights the urgent need for reform.