The Security Council (Security Council) of the United Nations (UN) is an essential body for maintaining international peace and security. Despite the many proposals for reform of the UN and, first and foremost, of the Security Council, its composition and function have remained unchanged (apart from the enlargement of members elected in 1963) since its establishment. This formal stasis, however, does not mean that there have been changes in practice. To what extent has the body responded adequately to the many social, economic, political and geopolitical changes that have developed over the decades?

This research project, conducted in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s Unit for Statistical Analysis and Planning along with the Historical Documentation department, seeks to explore key questions concerning the reform of the United Nations (UN) framework, with a special focus on the Security Council (UNSC). The research questions we aim to address are as follows:

1. In which historical situations have the UNSC successfully carried out its main role, and apart from the overarching geopolitical landscape, which elements have contributed to varying degrees of success?
2. What changes have occurred in the UNSC's operating practices, and how were these changes implemented and rationalised?
3. What factors have influenced the election of the 10 non-permanent members of the UNSC?
4. What was the rationale behind the institutional reform proposals of the UNSC put forward by the states?
5. What are the reform proposals put forward by independent actors, including non-governmental organizations and the academic community, in recent decades?
6. Why, despite the numerous proposals put forward, has a large-scale agreement not been reached on the reform of the UNSC?
7. Is it possible to develop a UNSC reform proposal that is both realistic and feasible, overcoming political, institutional, and legal obstacles?