Reassessing Collective Security: The UN General Assembly’s Role under the 'Uniting for Peace' Resolution
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55662/SALRJ.2025.1101Keywords:
Uniting for Peace, UN General Assembly, Collective Security, Veto Power, Ukraine CrisisAbstract
The doctrine of collective security, as codified in the United Nations Charter, assigns the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. However, the repeated paralysis of the Council—particularly due to the veto power of its permanent members—has hindered decisive responses to crises such as those in Syria, Myanmar, and Ukraine. In response to such institutional deadlock, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 377 A (V), the “Uniting for Peace” resolution, in 1950. This mechanism enables the Assembly to recommend collective measures, including the use of force, when the Council fails to act due to lack of unanimity.
This paper conducts a doctrinal, historical, and empirical analysis of the Uniting for Peace resolution, examining its legal foundations, practical application, and evolving normative role. Focusing on landmark instances—including the Korean War, the Suez Crisis, and the Eleventh Emergency Special Session on Ukraine (2022–2025)—it evaluates voting trends, state behavior, and the Assembly’s discursive authority. Despite lacking enforcement powers, the General Assembly’s role as a mobilizing and norm-setting institution is increasingly significant.
The study concludes by proposing targeted reforms to institutionalize and enhance the Assembly’s complementary function within the UN collective security system, especially during times of Security Council paralysis and geopolitical fragmentation.
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