---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What takes place in the Security Council…"
description: "\"What takes place in the Security Council more closely resembles a mugging than either a political debate or an effort at problem-solving.\" — Jeane Kirk..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg"
---

#  What takes place in the Security Council more closely…

![“What takes place in the Security Council more closely resembles a mugging than either a political debate or an effort at problem-solving.” quote by Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg)

> “What takes place in the Security Council more closely resembles a mugging than either a political debate or an effort at problem-solving.”

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Security Council often behaves more like a violent confrontation than a constructive debate.

**In simple terms:** Council Council acts like a fight, not a discussion.

Key Takeaway

Expect aggression, seek diplomatic channels.

Themes

politics conflict diplomacy

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

analytical political

When to use this quote

- UN negotiations
- international crises
- peace talks

Key Concepts

power dynamics institutional failure

Questions to Reflect On

- How can reform reduce confrontational tactics?
- What alternatives exist for constructive dialogue?

A Different Perspective

Violence can undermine legitimacy and solutions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Council](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/council/) [Council Closely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/council-closely-4693819/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Mugging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mugging/) [Mugging Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mugging-political-4693818/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Resembles Mugging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resembles-mugging-4693817/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security council](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-council/)

## Related quotes

> [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/)

[Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/)

> [During my term in AU, I will initiate an organised compensation claim for Africa and I will fight for a greater voice for Africa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/during-my-term-in-au-i-will-initiate-an-organised-compensation-claim/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [The president of the United States is the commander in chief, and the people who work with him at the National Security Council are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/the-president-of-the-united-states-is-the-commander-in-chief-and-the/)

[Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/)

> [We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today's complex and turbulent world is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-need-to-use-the-united-nations-security-council-and-believe-that/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-i-were-doing-the-security-council-today-i-d-have-one-permanent/)

[John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/)

> [Let's be clear: Neither Secretary Powell or I opposed the notion of removing Saddam Hussein by force, but we wanted to avoid the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/let-s-be-clear-neither-secretary-powell-or-i-opposed-the-notion-of/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [The liberation of Kuwait has begun. In conjunction with the forces of our coalition partners, the United States has moved under the code name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-liberation-of-kuwait-has-begun-in-conjunction-with-the-forces-of/)

[George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/)

> [The United Nations will be at the heart of our international activities. France will assume its full responsibilities at the Security Council by putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/the-united-nations-will-be-at-the-heart-of-our-international/)

[Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/)

> [We want to approach this in a multilateral way, talking with our friends, consulting with our security council colleagues in the United Nations, hoping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-want-to-approach-this-in-a-multilateral-way-talking-with-our/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [The sanctions may be imposed only by the decision of the UN Security Council. A unilateral imposition of sanctions is a violation of international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-sanctions-may-be-imposed-only-by-the-decision-of-the-un-security/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/well-the-u-n-security-council-resolution-1973-is-very-clear-it-says/)

[Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/)

> [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/)

[Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/)

> [The list of U.S. vetoes at the Security Council to protect Israeli aggression and occupation is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-list-of-u-s-vetoes-at-the-security-council-to-protect-israeli/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More by Jeane Kirkpatrick

> [A doctrine of class war seemed to provide a solution to the problem of poverty to people who know nothing about how wealth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/a-doctrine-of-class-war-seemed-to-provide-a-solution-to-the-problem/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [It was not malaise we suffered from; it was Jimmy Carter - and Walter Mondale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/it-was-not-malaise-we-suffered-from-it-was-jimmy-carter-and-walter/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [When Marxist dictators shoot their way into power in Central America, the Democrats don't blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/when-marxist-dictators-shoot-their-way-into-power-in-central-america/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [That is simply that Marxism has been tremendously fashionable in our time, so it has infected a very large number of major institutions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/that-is-simply-that-marxism-has-been-tremendously-fashionable-in-our/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [There is an absolutely fundamental hostility on the part of totalitarian regimes toward religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/there-is-an-absolutely-fundamental-hostility-on-the-part-of/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [Truth, which is important to a scholar, has got to be concrete. And there is nothing more concrete than dealing with babies, burps and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/truth-which-is-important-to-a-scholar-has-got-to-be-concrete-and/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [And I think detente had manifestly failed, and that the pursuit of it was encouraging Soviet expansion and rendering the world more dangerous, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/and-i-think-detente-had-manifestly-failed-and-that-the-pursuit-of-it/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [Cultural constraints condition and limit our choices, shaping our characters with their imperatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/cultural-constraints-condition-and-limit-our-choices-shaping-our/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [Look, I don't even agree with myself at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/look-i-don-t-even-agree-with-myself-at-times/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [ Decades, if not centuries are normally required for people to acquire the necessary disciplines and habits. In Britain, the road \[to democratic government\] took… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/decades-if-not-centuries-are-normally-required-for-people-to-acquire/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [Democracy not only requires equality but also an unshakable conviction in the value of each person, who is then equal. Cross cultural experience teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/democracy-not-only-requires-equality-but-also-an-unshakable/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [Democracy not only requires equality but also an unshakable conviction in the value of each person, who is then equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/democracy-not-only-requires-equality-but-also-an-unshakable-2/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [Americans need to face the truth about themselves, no matter how pleasant it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/americans-need-to-face-the-truth-about-themselves-no-matter-how/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [For all their faults, right-wing authoritarian regimes more easily accept democratic reforms than left-wing totalitarian states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/for-all-their-faults-right-wing-authoritarian-regimes-more-easily/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

> [All of us confront limits of body, talent, temperament. But that is not all. We are, all of us, also constrained by our time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/all-of-us-confront-limits-of-body-talent-temperament-but-that-is-not/)

[Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

[Explore all 53 Jeane Kirkpatrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/)

## More Council quotes

> [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/)

[James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/)

> [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/)

[Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/)

> [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/)

[Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/)

> [Currently, the United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. annual budgets, over $900 million in fiscal year 2007, and some of that funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccaul/currently-the-united-states-provides-22-percent-of-the-u-n-annual/)

[Michael McCaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mccaul/)

> [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/)

[Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/)

> [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [Didn't think her vision was consistent with the ORC, especially the way the Council wishes to work with the ORC. For example, with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/didn-t-think-her-vision-was-consistent-with-the-orc-especially-the/)

[Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/)

> [Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/well-the-u-n-security-council-resolution-1973-is-very-clear-it-says/)

[Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/)

> [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [When I was council president I had a rule that people could sleep on the job. I modified the rule. You could actually sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-street/when-i-was-council-president-i-had-a-rule-that-people-could-sleep-on/)

[John F. Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-street/)

> [Spiritual leaders are not made by man, nor any combination of men. Neither conferences, nor synods, nor councils can make them, but only God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-logan-brengle/spiritual-leaders-are-not-made-by-man-nor-any-combination-of-men/)

[Samuel Logan Brengle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-logan-brengle/)

> [The sanctions may be imposed only by the decision of the UN Security Council. A unilateral imposition of sanctions is a violation of international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-sanctions-may-be-imposed-only-by-the-decision-of-the-un-security/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [The council in Blackpool have given the homeless bus passes, but how would they know where to get off?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/the-council-in-blackpool-have-given-the-homeless-bus-passes-but-how/)

[Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/)

> [We want to approach this in a multilateral way, talking with our friends, consulting with our security council colleagues in the United Nations, hoping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-want-to-approach-this-in-a-multilateral-way-talking-with-our/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

[Browse all 569 Council quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/council/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What takes place in the Security Council more closely resembles a mugging than either a political debate or an effort at problem-solving.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeane Kirkpatrick"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/what-takes-place-in-the-security-council-more-closely-resembles-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Council"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/what-takes-place-in-the-security-council-more-closely-resembles-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/jeane-kirkpatrick-12763_council_what-takes-place-in-the-security-council_2990044.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What takes place in the Security Council more closely resembles a mugging than either a political debate or…” — Jeane Kirkpatrick",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jeane Kirkpatrick",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What takes place in the Security...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/what-takes-place-in-the-security-council-more-closely-resembles-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/what-takes-place-in-the-security-council-more-closely-resembles-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
