Originally published on the CGS blog on October 2, 2009.
Last night, I attended a book launch hosted by the World Affairs Council. The book is entitled “Five to Rule Them All”, and is a historical narrative of the Security Council and in particular the relationship of the five permanent members (United Kingdom, France, Russia, United States and China).
He told us about the role that the Security Council has played over the years, in particular its role as a place for public diplomacy. In the early years of the Council, there had been significant media attention, and it would be a place for Cold War nations to shape world public opinion through public fights. In more recent years, the Security Council has taken on a more “behind closed doors” feel, with less media attention and with most agreements taking place before the public session.
Professor Bosco argued that while the Security Council has, and will probably continue to fail as a governance body to solve world problems, it has played an important role in bringing the major powers closer together. There were periods in world history where the major powers simply did not communicate at all. However for those seeking a solution to the world’s problems, Professor Bosco argued that the Security Council is not the place to look for answers, and that we should look to regional arrangements instead.
