Peace is often described as sustained tranquillity, yet this has rarely been achieved globally. In 2026, more than 20 wars are underway, raising the question of whether peace is even attainable.

Any effort to strengthen peace must recognise that the UN Security Council – the body responsible for maintaining international security – has repeatedly fallen short of this role. Since the post‑Cold War era, and especially after 9/11, the Council has frequently been paralysed by unilateral actions and vetoes from permanent members such as the US, Russia, and China. These vetoes, driven by national interests, have undermined global stability.

Despite this, middle and small powers are not without influence. They can help counter the turbulence created by veto use by forming new political alignments that support a rules‑based international order, beginning with reform of the Security Council.

Robert Patman is one of the University of Otago’s Inaugural Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chairs and a specialist in international relations. He directs the Master of International Studies (MIntSt) programme and has authored or edited 14 books, including the 2024 volume New Zealand’s Foreign Policy under the Jacinda Ardern Government. He is an Honorary Professor at the New Zealand Defence Command and Staff College, a regular media commentator, and the recipient of the 2024 New Zealand Universities’ Critic and Conscience of Society Award.