More Than Just Productive? Evaluating Germany’s Term at the UN Security Council 2019–2020

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since Germany joined the United Nations (UN) in 1973, it served six times as an elected member of the UN Security Council. The main aim of the article is to evaluate Germany’s latest term (2019–2020). What policy space can elected members occupy given the still unreformed Council? Germany is selected as a case study, because it is a pivotal regional power with the potential to exert significant influence on the Council. The article provides an in-depth overview of Germany’s performance and explores those conditions which shape and steer its positions as an elected member. Three conditions are particularly relevant: diplomatic capacity, the effective use of Council rules and procedures, as well as the ability to forge coalitions. As a regional powerhouse and adamant endorser of multilateralism, the expectations toward Germany are high, however, has the country lived up to them?