The Duplex Attributions Of International Regimes And The Operation And Reform Of The Security Council Decision-Making--The Case Of Iraqi War

In the aftermath of World War II, cooperation has become the mainstream of international relations with the advancing of globalization and deepening of interdependence, which gave a strong momentum to international regimes and organizations in their development. International regime theory has become an important branch of the theories of international politics. The two mainstream schools of international political theory-neo-realism and neo-liberalism-hold opposite viewpoints on international regime. However, in order to make a comprehensive explanation of the nature and functions of international regimes in real international relations, the regime theories of both the two schools should be combined together, thus, international regimes are conferred duplex attributes: Subordination and Independence.The United Nations is the most important international organization around the world, and has significantly promoted the development of international regimes. Maintaining world peace and security is one of UN's purposes. After World War II, a collective security regime was established in the area of international security which was based on the UN. Like other international regimes, this collective regime is also under the influence of both Independence and Subordination. The UN Charter entrusted the primary task of maintaining world peace and security to the Security Council. It is the main performer of the decision-making procedure of the whole collective security regime, and holds the dominant power of making decisions and taking actions. The decision-making of the Security Council has direct bearing on the' authority and functions of the UN collective security regime/This thesis will discuss and analyze the decision-making regime of the Security Council from a wider angle of view. It will take the Security Council's behaviour and its limitation during the Iraqi War period as an example in order to explain how the Security Council decision-making was influenced by the duplex attributes of international regime. Finally, the thesis will make some suggestions on the envisaged reform of the Security Council decision-making and look into its future.