Should Japan and India become permanent members of the UN Security Council?

• Position: A Symposium Of Views

Background:

The permanent five members of the UN Security Council--the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, and France--jealously guard their current status. Yet France and Russia have both declined significantly as world military and economic powers in the years since WWII. India is now the world's second most populous country, possesses nuclear capability, and is one of the world's largest contributors of U.N. peacekeeping personnel, although its membership would greatly upset Pakistan. Japan remains an economic superpower, especially in Asia, and is the world's largest aid donor. Should the UN Security Council be modified to reflect this 21st-century reality or would India and Japan joining anytime soon represent too much of a dislocation at this sensitive time?

Yes, add Japan and India.

LAWRENCE EAGLEBURGER Former Secretary of State to President George H. W. Bush Yes, definitely add them.

ROBERT STRAUSS Former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation and Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld These discussions are politically meaningless.

OTTO GRAF LAMBSDORFF Former German Minister of Economics and Honorary Chairman of the Free Democratic Party I cannot answer this question in these terms. I am basically of the opinion that these discussions, while intellectually interesting, are politically meaningless. Nothing will change in the foreseeable future, especially not following the course of the debate on the Iraq crisis.

If the Security Council were to be expanded, then Germany certainly ought to be a member. If you wish to involve India, why not Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world? And Brazil?

I do not think the subject is so simple that it can be answered with a simple yes or no.

Yes, Japan and India should be added, and France should be eliminated.

ANDERS ASLUND Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Yes, through a "gentlemen's agreement."

JOSEPH NYE Dean, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and author of The Paradox of American Power: Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone Yes, Japan and India should be added as Security Council members. Given the political difficulty of amending the Charter, the best prospect for accomplishing this would be a "gentleman's agreement" that they would be continually re-elected as non-permanent members. But even this will be difficult.

Absolutely, add them.

STEVE S. FORBES, JR. President and Chief Executive Officer, Forbes...