In recent decades, the political legitimacy of International Organisations has been heavily criticised, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is no exception. The purpose of this research...Show moreIn recent decades, the political legitimacy of International Organisations has been heavily criticised, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is no exception. The purpose of this research is to determine to what extent the United Nations (UN) member states consider the current UNSC as a legitimate organisation. The following research question is therefore formulated: How has the handling of the UNSC, with regard to the Syrian Civil War, affected the political legitimacy of the UNSC through the perception of UN member states? The concept of political legitimacy is divided into three different dimensions: legal legitimacy, procedural legitimacy and performance legitimacy. To answer the research question, a qualitative content analysis was carried out, examining all adopted and vetoed resolutions regarding the Syrian Civil War. Throughout the 42 resolutions, 55 different UN member states were present to vote and make statements on the case. These votes and statements were subsequently interpreted to measure the level of legal, procedural and performance legitimacy. The results have demonstrated that, with regard to the Syrian Civil Ware, the UNSC’s legal legitimacy has equally increased and diminished, its procedural legitimacy has diminished and that its performance legitimacy has not diminished through the perception of UN member states. Based on the results of the empirical analysis, this study recommends that the UNSC should reform its veto procedure to receive more procedural legitimacy. Regarding the legal and performance legitimacy, it is recommended that the UNSC should not reform. Additionally, possible further research should focus on different cases than the Syrian Civil War to ensure a more comprehensive solution for the UNSC’s political legitimacy debate.Show less
