Publication

This paper reviews Australia's time as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, which began in January 2013. The author argues that Australia has conducted itself well in this position and gained a good reputation for pragmatism and openness among fellow diplomats, UN officials and NGOs. In addition, he suggests that Australia’s main achievement has been the establishment of its place in diplomacy over the issue of humanitarian access in the Syrian conflict. However, he also contends that Australia has only been able to have a relatively limited influence on situations on which larger powers at the UN have a greater say.