The Arria Formula: How the Weak Wield Influence in the UN Security Council

• In Event: UN Voting and the Security Council

Abstract

When do informal institutional rules hold the most influence? Prior literature highlights the importance of informal governance mechanisms, but existing studies have largely focused on economic arrangements and the agency of powerful states. This paper suggests that the normal calculus of informal governance may be flipped in security institutions. Here, weaker states rely on informal rules the most. Evidence for this proposition comes from the United Nations Security Council’s “Arria Formula.” Under the Arria Formula, member states can hold meetings with relevant third parties––such as nongovernmental organizations and individuals––who could not access formal proceedings normally. An original dataset that tracks the Formula’s usage from 1992-2021 is used to find quantitative support for the argument. The results show that while the Permanent Five (P5) member-states largely use the Formula in the face of insurmountable gridlock, non-P5 members invoke the Formula to successfully catalyze action from the P5. This study adds to our understanding of international security institutions and the participation of non-state actors within them. It also highlights the particular strategies weak actors employ to achieve their aims within existing governance structures.

Author

• Andrew McWard, Denison University