The United States and Diffusion of Power in the Security Council

TLDR: In contrast to the Assembly, the Security Council has maintained its image as a useful and valuable body because the much-maligned veto provides a control not available in the Assembly as mentioned in this paper.

Abstract: U.S. support for the United Nations, both public and private, has experienced a severe long-run decline. This is indicated by official statements about the United Nations, U.S. percentage contributions to UN programs, and polls of public and congressional opinion. Declining support has paralleled loss of U.S. influence in General Assembly voting and decreased U.S. enthusiasm for the body. Diffusion of power has also weakened the U.S. position in the Security Council. But, in contrast to the Assembly, the Security Council has maintained its image as a useful and valuable body because the much-maligned veto provides a control not available in the Assembly. The Security Council may even have improved its image in recent years because of its peacekeeping performance in the Middle East. Under these circumstances, the Security Council now serves the United States—as formerly it served-the Soviet Union—by providing an institutional foundation for maintaining a tolerable political position within the United Nations.