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Assessing the institutional legitimacy of the UN Security Council : a comparative analysis in the lens of Ukraine and Gaza
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Florence : European University Institute, 2025
EUI; STG; Master Thesis
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DAS, Rajib Kumar, Assessing the institutional legitimacy of the UN Security Council : a comparative analysis in the lens of Ukraine and Gaza, Florence : European University Institute, 2025, EUI, STG, Master Thesis - https://hdl.handle.net/1814/93838
Abstract
This thesis critically assesses the institutional legitimacy of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) through a comparative analysis of the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Using process tracing, it explores how the veto power wielded by the five permanent members (P5) undermines the Council’s ability to respond effectively to contemporary security crises. The Ukraine war and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza reveal the selective enforcement of international norms, where P5 interests override global consensus and obstruct resolutions. Drawing from literary metaphors—such as Omarnath Balmiki’s “Thakur’s well”—the study highlights how power asymmetries within the UNSC mirror broader patterns of global injustice. The thesis argues that the Council’s democratic deficit, procedural gridlock, and susceptibility to geopolitical manipulation severely compromise its credibility. While reform proposals abound, this study focuses on evaluating legitimacy rather than prescribing solutions.
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Award date: 13 June 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Kalypso Nicolaidis (European University Institute)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Kalypso Nicolaidis (European University Institute)