Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 05/2011

What Impact? The E10 and the 2011 Security Council

Paul Romita, Naureen Chowdhury Fink, Till Papenfuss

March 2011

International Peace Institute

Abstract

The current configuration of the Security Council has produced widespread speculation regarding the impact the new non-permanent members--some with aspirations for permanent seats--will have on the tone and substance of the Council’s work this year. In recent weeks, the Council has been in the spotlight over its handling of the situation in Libya, adopting two significant resolutions. While this issue brief looks at the implications of the new configuration for all members, the main emphasis will be on the five new members: India, Germany, South Africa, Colombia, and Portugal.