RECENT TRENDS IN THE SECURITY COUNCILS DE CICION-MAKING PROCESS

The activities of the United Nations Security Council have radically c hanged after the end of the Cold War. In particular, the Council's cap acity to take effective action with regard to the maintenance of inter national peace and security has improved considerably. The article dea ls with the rules of procedure and working methods of the Council. It analyses the increased use of consultation mechanisms behind closed do ors. These procedures signify to a large extent new cooperation patter ns between the five permanent members of the Council, as well as other members' attempts at counterbalancing the great powers. Moreover, the re appear to be general tendencies toward less formality and more flex ibility in the procedures as well as a larger degree of delegation of powers to subsidiary and other bodies.