On the Brink of Reform? Restructuring the UN Security Council

The United Nations is based on the principle of collective security-- nations banding together to protect each other from aggression, both from within the group of nations and from the outside. However, the standard operating procedures of collective security, as embodied by the UN, is unable to meet the changing needs of the international community. This is due in part to the shift in the global power structure and the Security Council\u27s lack of accurate geo-political representation. If the UN expects to continue its efforts to maintain international peace and security, the Security Council\u27s composition must change. In the 1990s there has been talk of adding new permanent members to the Council, with Japan and Germany topping the list of candidates for a permanent seat. This paper delves into what effects the grant of permanent membership would have on Japan, and what obstacles there are to Japan\u27s inclusion as a permanent member