Selective Security War and the United Nations Security Council Since 1945

This is a pioneering interpretation of the role of the UN Security Council in facing constantly evolving threats to international security. in contrast to the common perception that the UN is, or should become, a system of collective security, this Adelphi Paper advances the proposition that the Council embodies, at best, a selective approach. The Council's selectivity is generally seen as a problem - even a threat to its legitimacy. Yet selectivity, which is rooted in prudence and in the UN Charter itself, has some virtues. Evaluating the UN by this realistic yardstick sheds light on the division of labour between the Security Council, regional security bodies, and states; and can assist public and governmental understanding of the UN's past, present and future roles. . This Adelphi Paper explores the analytical conclusions and policy implications that flow from a multi-author 800-page study on The United Nations Security Council and War: The Evolution of Thought and Practice since 1945 (Oxford University Press, 2008) conducted within the framework of the Oxford Leverhulme Programme on the Changing Character of War.