How Syria's Tragedy Could Remake the UN

How Syria's Tragedy Could Remake the UN

clip from article: Once vetoes are gone, the addition of a set of emerging powers and a consolidation of the French and British seats into a single EU vote would be possible. Japan, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt and perhaps South Africa added as permanent members would force real negotiations on the world’s most important issues, transforming the United Nations from a sideshow to the main show.

In such a forum, the United States’ ability to form coalitions and mediate disputes would be amplified, and while it would lose votes, too, this reform of the Security Council would stand as the ultimate democratizing moment of America’s years at the top of the heap. And those who fear setting inconvenient precedents -- like taking action against dictators massacring their own citizens - will simply be out of luck. [read more at link]