Barackface

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Rethinking the United Nations: Abolishing the Veto and Empowering All Nations

The WTO Is Broken — Let’s Reform the UN and Rethink Global Trade from the Ground Up
A New United Nations, A New Partnership: How Reform Can Unite the U.S. and India as Equals
The Small Country Coalition: How Nations with Fewer than 30 Votes Could Shape a New United Nations
Imagining A New United Nations
A G30 (Or G40) For A New Global Trade Architecture

Rethinking the United Nations: Abolishing the Veto and Empowering All Nations

By: Paramendra Bhagat

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as it stands today, reflects the geopolitical realities of 1945, not 2025. The five permanent members (P5) with veto power—the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France—were victors of World War II and the major powers of the mid-20th century. But the world has changed dramatically since then. Today, countries like India, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Germany, and Japan have far greater populations, economies, or diplomatic weight than several of the P5. The current structure is outdated, increasingly undemocratic, and a major source of global disillusionment with multilateral institutions.

Is Veto Power Necessary?

The veto power, held by the P5, allows any one of them to unilaterally block any substantive resolution, regardless of global consensus. This has often paralyzed the UNSC, particularly on issues like:

The Israel-Palestine conflict, where the U.S. has consistently used its veto.
The Syria war, where Russia (and sometimes China) vetoed resolutions on humanitarian corridors and war crimes.
Ukraine, where Russia, as a party to the conflict, has vetoed condemnations of its own actions.

The original rationale was to prevent another world war by ensuring great power buy-in to all major decisions. But in practice, the veto has become a geopolitical weapon to stall action, protect allies, and obstruct justice.

A New Formula for Global Governance

A proposal outlined at Barackface.net introduces a promising alternative:

Total Voting Power = 40% GDP Share + 40% Population Share + 20% Equal Vote (1/195 per country)

This formula balances:

Economic contribution (GDP Share),
Democratic legitimacy (Population Share), and
Sovereign equality (Equal Vote).

It envisions a Security Council—or perhaps an entirely reimagined General Assembly—where every country gets a weighted vote based on these three components. No vetoes. No absolute power. Just proportional global democracy.

Pros of This Reorganization

✅ Democratization of Global Governance

Every country, from India to Iceland, would have a voice that reflects its size, economic strength, and sovereign status. This would increase legitimacy and global trust in the UN.

✅ Ending UNSC Paralysis

Removing veto power could unblock years of stalled progress on critical issues—climate change, genocide prevention, nuclear disarmament, and humanitarian intervention.

✅ Reflecting Modern Power Realities

The emerging multipolar world—with rising powers like India, Brazil, and Indonesia—deserves representation aligned with 21st-century geopolitics, not the post-World War II order.

✅ Better Global Cooperation

Weighted voting based on transparent metrics could encourage responsible policymaking, as countries know they have to work with the consensus of the majority—not just please one of the P5.

Cons and Challenges

⚠️ Resistance from the P5

The biggest hurdle is the P5 themselves. None would willingly give up their veto—a symbol of their superpower status. Any reform of the UN Charter requires their approval. Catch-22.

⚠️ Fear of Majority Domination

Smaller countries might fear being overrun by large-population or high-GDP nations like China, India, or the U.S. The formula must ensure fairness without enabling new monopolies.

⚠️ Technical Implementation

Translating GDP and population into vote shares requires trust in transparent data. Disputes over metrics (e.g., nominal GDP vs. PPP) could delay implementation.

⚠️ Institutional Inertia

The UN is notoriously slow at reform. Even modest changes to Security Council composition have dragged on for decades. Overhauling the voting system would be a monumental bureaucratic task.

What Will It Take to Make This Happen?

🌍 A Global Coalition of Reformers

Middle powers like India, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Nigeria, and Indonesia must unite behind this reform, rallying support from the Global South and democratic allies.

📢 Public Pressure and Civil Society Mobilization

Global citizens, especially the youth, must demand a more just UN. This could take the form of petitions, forums, or parallel "People’s Assemblies" that shame the current system into change.

🧠 Thought Leadership and Intellectual Momentum

Academics, economists, and policymakers need to develop white papers, simulations, and public campaigns around this formula to show that it is not just idealistic, but also feasible.

💡 Leveraging Moments of Crisis

Major geopolitical crises—wars, pandemics, climate disasters—often create windows for bold change. A future breakdown of UNSC credibility could force a “Bretton Woods 2.0” moment.

Conclusion: Time for a Bretton Woods of the 21st Century

The current UN structure is a relic. Reforming it with a formula that blends economic power, population size, and sovereign equality is not just fair—it’s necessary for peace and progress in a multipolar world. The veto is undemocratic. Abolishing it will be hard, yes—but not impossible. History shows us that old orders fall when the world demands something new. That moment is coming.

Whether it's five years from now or fifty, the pressure for a more just, representative global order will only grow.

And when it does, this formula might be the blueprint we’ve been waiting for.

Paramendra Bhagat is the author of "Rethinking Trade: A Blueprint for a Just and Thriving Global Economy" and a frequent commentator on global governance, technology, and political reform.

संयुक्त राष्ट्र का पुनःगठन: वीटो को समाप्त करें, सभी देशों को समान अधिकार दें

लेखक: परमेंद्र भगत

संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद (UNSC) आज भी 1945 के भू-राजनीतिक यथार्थ को दर्शाती है, न कि 2025 के वैश्विक परिदृश्य को। पाँच स्थायी सदस्य देशों—अमेरिका, चीन, रूस, ब्रिटेन और फ्रांस—को वीटो पावर प्राप्त है, जो कि द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध के विजेताओं और उस समय की महाशक्तियों पर आधारित है। लेकिन आज की दुनिया बहुत बदल चुकी है। भारत, ब्राज़ील, नाइजीरिया, इंडोनेशिया, जर्मनी और जापान जैसे देश अब कहीं अधिक जनसंख्या, अर्थव्यवस्था और कूटनीतिक प्रभाव रखते हैं, फिर भी वीटो शक्ति उनसे कोसों दूर है।

क्या वीटो पावर आवश्यक है?

वीटो पावर का तर्क यह था कि महाशक्तियों के बीच सहमति के बिना कोई बड़ा वैश्विक निर्णय नहीं हो सकता, जिससे एक और विश्व युद्ध टाला जा सके। लेकिन व्यवहार में वीटो शक्ति ने निर्णय प्रक्रिया को ठप कर दिया है, विशेषकर इन मुद्दों पर:

इज़राइल-फिलिस्तीन संघर्ष, जहां अमेरिका लगातार वीटो का प्रयोग करता रहा है
सीरिया युद्ध, जहां रूस और चीन ने मानवीय प्रस्तावों को बार-बार रोका
यूक्रेन, जहां रूस ने खुद पर आए प्रस्तावों को वीटो किया

अब यह शक्ति न्याय के खिलाफ एक हथियार बन चुकी है, न कि शांति बनाए रखने का कोई यंत्र।

एक नया सूत्र: निष्पक्ष वैश्विक शासन

Barackface.net पर सुझाया गया एक नया प्रस्ताव कहता है:

कुल मतदान शक्ति (Total Voting Power) = 40% GDP हिस्सेदारी + 40% जनसंख्या हिस्सेदारी + 20% समान वोट (हर देश को 1/195 हिस्सा)

यह सूत्र तीन मुख्य सिद्धांतों को संतुलित करता है:

आर्थिक योगदान (GDP के अनुसार)
जनतांत्रिक वैधता (जनसंख्या के अनुसार)
संप्रभु समानता (हर देश को एक समान आधार वोट)

यह प्रस्ताव एक ऐसी संयुक्त राष्ट्र प्रणाली की कल्पना करता है जहां कोई भी देश वीटो नहीं कर सकता, बल्कि हर देश की वोटिंग शक्ति मापदंडों पर आधारित होती है—न कि इतिहास या सैन्य शक्ति पर।

✅ इस पुनर्गठन के लाभ

✔️ वैश्विक शासन का लोकतंत्रीकरण

हर देश की आवाज़ उसके आकार, शक्ति और संप्रभुता के अनुसार सुनी जाएगी। इससे UN की वैधता और लोकप्रियता बढ़ेगी।

✔️ वीटो की वजह से बंद हो चुकी परिषद को पुनर्जीवित करना

वीटो को हटाकर उन विषयों पर भी आगे बढ़ा जा सकेगा जिन पर वर्षों से ठहराव है—जैसे जलवायु संकट, युद्ध अपराध, और मानवाधिकार।

✔️ समकालीन शक्ति संतुलन को दर्शाना

21वीं सदी की बहुध्रुवीय दुनिया—भारत, ब्राज़ील, नाइजीरिया, जर्मनी जैसे उभरते देशों—को सही प्रतिनिधित्व मिलेगा।

✔️ बेहतर वैश्विक सहयोग

सभी देशों को यह एहसास होगा कि उन्हें बहुमत के साथ मिलकर काम करना है, जिससे सहयोग की भावना मजबूत होगी।

⚠️ चुनौतियाँ और नुकसान

❌ P5 देशों का विरोध

P5 देश (अमेरिका, रूस, चीन, फ्रांस, ब्रिटेन) अपनी विशेष शक्ति छोड़ना नहीं चाहेंगे। किसी भी चार्टर संशोधन में उनकी सहमति आवश्यक है—यह सबसे बड़ी बाधा है।

❌ बड़े देशों का वर्चस्व

कुछ छोटे देशों को डर हो सकता है कि बड़े देश—जैसे चीन, भारत या अमेरिका—बहुमत में हावी हो जाएंगे।

❌ तकनीकी व प्रशासनिक अड़चनें

GDP और जनसंख्या के आंकड़ों की पारदर्शिता और स्वीकार्यता को सुनिश्चित करना एक चुनौती होगी।

❌ संस्थागत जड़ता

UN जैसी बड़ी संस्था में कोई भी बड़ा बदलाव बेहद धीमा और कठिन होता है।

🔍 यह कैसे संभव हो सकता है?

🌍 एक वैश्विक सुधार गठबंधन

भारत, ब्राज़ील, दक्षिण अफ्रीका, नाइजीरिया, इंडोनेशिया जैसे मध्य शक्तियों को मिलकर इस बदलाव का नेतृत्व करना होगा।

📢 जनता और सिविल सोसायटी का दबाव

विश्व भर की जनता, विशेषकर युवा पीढ़ी, को इस मुद्दे पर आवाज़ उठानी होगी—याचिकाएं, सम्मेलन और डिजिटल आंदोलन ज़रूरी हैं।

🧠 बौद्धिक नेतृत्व और नीति विमर्श

शोध संस्थानों, शिक्षाविदों और नीति-निर्माताओं को इस नए फॉर्मूले को व्यवहार्य और प्रभावी सिद्ध करना होगा।

⚡ संकट के क्षणों का लाभ उठाना

भविष्य में कोई बड़ा संकट—जैसे जलवायु त्रासदी या युद्ध—UN की वर्तमान प्रणाली को नाकारा सिद्ध कर सकता है और सुधार की खिड़की खोल सकता है।

📌 निष्कर्ष: 21वीं सदी के लिए नया ब्रेटन वुड्स

संयुक्त राष्ट्र की मौजूदा संरचना पुरानी हो चुकी है। इस नए फॉर्मूले—GDP, जनसंख्या और समानता के मिश्रण—पर आधारित प्रणाली न केवल न्यायसंगत है बल्कि समय की माँग भी है।
वीटो अलोकतांत्रिक है। उसे हटाना कठिन है, लेकिन असंभव नहीं।

इतिहास बताता है कि जब दुनिया बदलाव की मांग करती है, तो व्यवस्थाएं बदलती हैं। वह क्षण अब बहुत दूर नहीं।

और जब वह क्षण आए, यह फॉर्मूला—शायद—हमारे पास पहले से तैयार हो।

परमेंद्र भगत, "Rethinking Trade: A Blueprint for a Just and Thriving Global Economy" के लेखक हैं और वैश्विक शासन, तकनीकी क्रांति, और राजनीतिक सुधारों पर नियमित रूप से लिखते हैं।

1/
क्या आज की दुनिया में संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद (UNSC) की 1945 वाली संरचना तर्कसंगत है?
5 देशों के पास वीटो शक्ति हो और 190 देश बस देखती रहें?
अब बदलाव ज़रूरी है।
👇 @cpimspeak @ShivSena @haryanaINLD
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) July 10, 2025

5/
यह कैसे मदद करेगा?
✅ निर्णयों में गति
✅ लोकतांत्रिक प्रतिनिधित्व
✅ ग्लोबल साउथ को आवाज़
✅ शक्ति का संतुलन
✅ वीटो के आतंक से मुक्ति @samajwadiparty @INCIndia @jdsforchange
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) July 10, 2025

7/
इस बदलाव के लिए चाहिए:
📢 सिविल सोसायटी की आवाज़
🌍 भारत-ब्राज़ील-जर्मनी-जापान जैसे देशों की एकता
🧠 नीति विशेषज्ञों की योजनाएं
⚡ और संकट के समय अवसर की पहचान @OfficialSPGB @TheDemocrats @nitin_gadkari @NitishKumar
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) July 10, 2025

10/
वीटो इतिहास बनेगा।
प्रतिनिधित्व भविष्य होगा।#UNReform की शुरुआत अब होनी चाहिए।
आप इसके लिए क्या करेंगे?
✊
~ परमेंद्र भगत#UNSC #DemocratizeUN #GlobalGovernance @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @PMOIndia @narendramodi @RahulGandhi
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) July 10, 2025

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Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Brazil if it doesn’t stop the Bolsonaro ‘witch hunt’ trial
Elon Musk tells Tesla analyst to 'shut up' over suggestions to limit his political activities Musk announced his intent to create an America Party over the weekend, which sent Tesla stock plunging. ......... "Shut up, Dan," Musk replied on X that was posted Wednesday morning. ........ Tesla is down over 1.1% on Wednesday following the post and has declined more than 5.6% in the past five days ......... Tesla's stock is down over 22% year to date due to slow EV sales as well as political blowback over Musk's support for President Donald Trump. .......... In Ives' full investor note, he warned that Musk's antagonism of Trump and GOP lawmakers is "exactly the opposite of what Tesla shareholders want to see with a very important autonomous regulatory framework now on the horizon during the Trump administration."

'Disgrace': Trump mocked over letter that 'reads as if it was written by a fifth grader' On Wednesday, President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva announcing that the U.S. was imposing a 50% tariff on all imported goods from the South American country – and revealed that his reason for doing so was more political than economic. ............ In the letter — which was written in Trump's signature style of randomly capitalized letters and all-caps adjectives – Trump began by attacking the ongoing trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is being charged with attempting a coup to stay in power after losing his reelection bid. He called the trial "an international disgrace" and a "Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY" before pivoting to the tariff announcement. ........... "In addition, we have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Brazil, and have concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil's Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers," the letter read. "Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Please understand that the 50% number is far less than what is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country. And it is necessary to have this to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime." ............ Bespoke Investment micro strategist George Pearkes debunked Trump's claims about the United States' trade relationship with Brazil, pointing out that the U.S. actually has a trade surplus with the G20 economy. He further opined that the letter was an attempt "to steal the sovereignty of Brazil." .............. "[T]here's really no other way to describe this," Pearkes wrote. "It's an effort to overthrow their domestic political institutions." ........... Progressive organizer Murshed Zaheed lamented on Bluesky that Trump was using "CAPS LOCK in official White House letter[head]" while "also interfering with domestic affairs of a democratically elected government of a sovereign nation." Film editor Michael Sweeney commented that the letter was "barely literate," while author Bea Caicoya commented that Trump's letter "reads as if it was written by a fifth grader high on [1990s cartoon] Pinky and the Brain." ............. "Lawless authoritarianism at home. Stealing sovereignty abroad. But only for this One Special Boy, because we've decided nothing matters & no one else who swore oaths needs to do their damn jobs," wrote University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Mark Copelovitch. "It's maddening & unserious & we should stop it."

ChatGPT owner OpenAI expected to release web browser — here’s why Google should be worried OpenAI is close to releasing an AI-powered web browser that will challenge Alphabet’s market-dominating Google Chrome ........... The browser is slated to launch in the coming weeks, three of the people said, and aims to use artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how consumers browse the web. It will give OpenAI more direct access to a cornerstone of Google’s success: user data. .......... If adopted by the 500 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s browser could put pressure on a key component of rival Google’s ad-money spigot. ........... Chrome is an important pillar of Alphabet’s ad business, which makes up nearly three-quarters of its revenue, as Chrome provides user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably, and also gives Google a way to route search traffic to its own engine by default. ......... OpenAI’s browser is designed to keep some user interactions within a ChatGPT-like native chat interface instead of clicking through to websites ............. The browser is part of a broader strategy by OpenAI to weave its services across the personal and work lives of consumers ............. In May, OpenAI said it would enter the hardware domain, paying $6.5 billion to buy io, an AI devices startup from Apple’s former design chief, Jony Ive. ............ A web browser would allow OpenAI to directly integrate its AI agent products such as Operator into the browsing experience, enabling the browser to carry out tasks on behalf of the user ............ Google Chrome, which is used by more than 3 billion people, currently holds more than two-thirds of the worldwide browser market ........... Apple’s second-place Safari lags far behind with a 16% share. Last month, OpenAI said it had 3 million paying business users for ChatGPT. .............

Perplexity, which has a popular AI search engine, launched an AI browser, Comet, on Wednesday, capable of performing actions on a user’s behalf. Two other AI startups, The Browser Company and Brave, have released AI-powered browsers capable of browsing and summarizing the internet.

........... Chrome’s role in providing user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably has proven so successful that the Department of Justice has demanded its divestiture after a US judge last year ruled that the Google parent holds an unlawful monopoly in online search. .............. OpenAI’s browser is built atop Chromium, Google’s own open-source browser code, two of the sources said. Chromium is the source code for Google Chrome, as well as many competing browsers including Microsoft’s Edge and Opera. ............. Last year, OpenAI hired two longtime Google vice presidents who were part of the original team that developed Google Chrome. ............ An OpenAI executive testified in April that the company would be interested in buying Chrome if antitrust enforcers succeeded in forcing the sale.

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