Knowing her immaturity, Britney Spears sings: “… I am not a girl, not yet a woman. All I need is time…” Likewise, after prospering for decades, Japan is now desperate to earn a permanent seat in United Nations Security Council. However, the Japanese don’t know the liability that is keeping their country from the seat.
The United Nations developed six main organs since coming into existence after World War II. Among those organs, the Security Council is the most influential one. While the others can only make recommendations or suggestions to governments, this organ has the authority to make decisions that the member countries of the United Nations are obliged to implement. It consists of fifteen members; currently China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are permanent members. Each is granted veto power to forbid an action even if the other fourteen members are in favor. Therefore, the permanent members are the most powerful members. Holding a position of permanent membership symbolizes a country’s high distinction in international politics. However, it is noticeable that all the present permanent members are also victors from World War II. Some countries, such as Germany and Japan, have made profound contributions to the United Nations and to the world today, but were not on the Allies’ side in World War II, and are excluded. Also, there are no African permanent members in the Security Council. Consequently, an expansion of permanent seats has been on the United Nations’ agenda.
Japan has been considered the most likely candidate since they are the second largest contributor to United Nations’ budget (20%), and one of the largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) – a category of development aid. Junichiro Koizumi, the ...