Security Council, part one

Welcome to part two of your continued tour of the United Nations. Since reading my blog is cheaper than taking the guided tour of the UN building in New York, you should all realize you're getting a great deal out of this one.
The Security Council - part one
The Security Council was established in an attempt to make the United Nations more reflective of the actual power balance in the world at the time. Unfortunately, that time was only just after the Second World War, so the situation then doesn't necessarily reflect the one now. The Security Council is charged with keeping the peace by the UN Charter, and as such can authorize the use of force to maintain international stability. In an effort to limit this power, five members of the council were given the veto power, which allows them the ability to defeat any motion by the rest of the council. This right was given to the nuclear powers of the time: the United States, the USSR (now Russia), China (now the Peoples Republic of China), France and Britain. This veto right made these actors much more powerful than the other temporary council members, which cannot defeat motions with a single vote.
There is much debate about whether permanent membership should be abolished or reformed. Smaller states sometimes feel that the predominance of these large nations is harmful to their national interests. Some commentators believe that the list of permanent members is incomplete. Where, for example, is India, a nation of a billion people, a huge economy and nuclear weaponry? Where is Japan, one of the central actors in international politics and economy? Why are there no African, South American or Central Asian nations with permanent membership?