Berkley Center

In this speech published in Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, Lise M. Howard, Berkley Center faculty fellow, evaluates the relationship between the United Nations Security Council's operational efficacy and its international legitimacy. Howard presents findings from 122 post-1945 interstate disputes to show that states have consistently relied on the Council to resolve militarized conflicts, making its legitimacy dependent on its capacity for prompt action. She concludes that structural reform is essential to prevent operational paralysis during major geopolitical crises and preserving a functioning Security Council remains vital to preventing a resurgence of interstate war.