Hidden Veto and Its Impact on Decision-Making Process in the Security Council

This study provides a comprehensive insight and information about the concept of the right of veto and its various kinds, which practically have been formed in the procedure of the UN Security Council, and by focusing on concept of “the hidden veto”, it examines its fundamental role in decision-making process of the Security Council. In the Post-Cold War era, the use of the hidden veto, mainly in the informal consultations, by the permanent members of the Security Council has increased dramatically. The hidden veto has shown its impact on the Security Council’s decision-making process in two two ways: First, by “controlling the agenda” and preventing the Security Council from putting particular issues on its agenda or in other words “exercising the five permanent members of the Security Council’s censorship”; and second, by “blocking action” in cases in which an unwanted issue is put on the agenda of the Security Council bringing forward some issues such as “weakening the definition of the crisis under international law”, “eliminating content, softening the language and weakening the wording of resolutions”, “self-censorship and the double hidden veto”, and “the reverse veto”.