Historical Security Council, 2002
Historical Security Council, 2002 (HSC)
Eva Harvey, Director
Class Year: 2013
Concentration: History and Literature
Hometown: Cork, Ireland
Favorite Country/Place Visited: Paris, France
Favorite Food: anything made by my grandmother!
Favorite Mun Moment: the moment just after a crisis break – always thrilling
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Topic Area Summaries
Topic A: Combatting Terrorism
Until the 1990s, terrorism was almost entirely dealt with by the General Assembly, which approached the issue as a general problem of international law rather than one relating to specific events or conflicts. The lack of consensus among member states about the definitional issue meant that the United Nations failed to take a central role in combating terrorism. Events in the late 1980s and 1990s caused the Security Council to respond to acts of terrorism by imposing sanctions against states such as Libya, Sudan and Afghanistan. Although, these sanctions helped in the prevention of state terrorism by Libya and Sudan; they were ineffective against the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and other groups, as such organizations operate outside of the international system. Therefore, the Security Council’s approach radically changed following September 11, 2001. The council endorsed measures ranging from approval of the use of force in self-defense to requiring member states to undertake comprehensive measures against terrorism, including changes to national legislation. (As seen in Resolutions 1368 and 1373) Resolution 1540 was much more controversial and unsettled some member states as well as international lawyers by again calling upon states to enact national legislation intended to prevent the procurement of weapons of mass destruction by non-state actors.
This issue allows for extensive substantive debate on the nature of the UN Security Council’s role in the fight against terror and raises the perennial issue of how to implement effective laws to govern international issues while being mindful of national sovereignty
Topic B: The Situation in Iraq
The debate over Iraq during this time period reflects the nature of power and how it manifests itself in the world organization. The attack of a superpower by a non-state actor and the Security Council’s struggle over resolutions is relevant to assessing the role of international law and the UN. Also relevant is the United States’ and Great Britain’s taking forceful action without UN authorization and the US declaration of a goal of “regime change” in Iraq. The US invocation of self-defense against terrorism in response to September 11 and its military campaign in Afghanistan were both approved by the council. However, the United States was unsuccessful in persuading the council that military action was required. The council was in agreement up to a point, demanding Iraqi compliance with previous disarmament resolutions and stating in resolution 1441 that serious consequences would follow non-compliance. Ultimately, however the UN did not maintain a tough line following Iraq’s failure to disarm; a fact that the US used to its advantage. All in all, it was evident as it was on the question of Kosovo in 1999, that the Security Council could not present a united front regarding Iraq in 2002 and 2003. The invasion raised the question of the continued viability of the UN for maintaining or restoring international peace and security.
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For More Information on the UN Security Council (2002), visit:
Article on Violating UN Security Council Resolutions as Justification for Invasion