In the United Nations, all sovereign states are considered equal, but there are some countries that are more equal than others. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States each possess a unique power that no other countries in the world are granted: a veto. With 2025 marking the UN Charter’s 80th anniversary, Australian producer and director Tim Slade offers the world an alarming wake-up call in the form of The Veto: The Greatest Threat to Global Peace and Security (hereafter called The Veto).
Part civics lesson and part documentary, The Veto dives into what exactly a “veto” means on a global scale and just how such a power came to be within its historical context. A subsection of the United Nations (UN) as a whole, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the most definitive body in the diplomatic sphere, with a responsibility to maintain global peace and security, encourage state cooperation and consideration, and, most importantly, uphold international law and defend human rights against transgressors. Slade, accompanied by an impressive assortment of ambassadors and civics scholars, asserts that what used to be the lofty goals of a world fresh out of World War II have devolved into little more than a game of chicken where the consequences affect millions of lives across the globe.
The Veto is as engaging as it is enraging. In a world where the internet provides access to world news at a speed that could not have been fathomed at the inception of the UN, many of the contributors to this piece argue that the Charter has lost its heading and its way as the leader of global peacekeeping. Ambassador Martin Kimani, former Kenyan ambassador to the UN, remarks within the documentary that when the Security Council begins to overstep and abuse its authority on the international stage, the responsibility must fall to the General Assembly or the people themselves to make the changes necessary to maintain world order. But when many communities find themselves too far removed from the UN, or too disillusioned by its efficacy, with the clock ticking for victims of violence around the world, when does anything actually get done about it?
What this documentary highlights is that, in matters of active genocide and war, the lack of decisive action to protect the oppressed state is still a decisive, and oftimes fatal, act. It cites historical occasions when the power of the veto has come into play, affecting international law and order, as well as when the threat of using the veto has swayed the Security Council into kneecapping sanctions upon offending states. This documentary specifically provides evidence of the United States’ utilization of numerous vetoes on behalf of Israel and, subsequently, the Security Council’s blatant disregard toward the state and people of Palestine, as well as the dubious strength of the council against a major player like Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
What is impossible to ignore in this piece is a sense of urgency that sways in the direction of Don’t Look Up (2021), where a sense of overwhelming helplessness and distrust toward the system pervades the narrative. With David Gross’ score providing the harrowing heartbeat for the perpetual disaster on our collective horizon, The Veto offers its audience a call to action that pulls on the very heartstrings of humanity. It demands not just that the Security Council or the United Nations remember the core purpose of its inception, but that the human race as a whole recall that this collective was the first of its kind in all of humanity’s history. Never before had humans collectively decided to maintain order without the use of force, but within the last eighty years, some of those ideals and values have fallen by the wayside to make room for power plays and punishments.
The success of The Veto is in its dissection of heady language and political affairs that might be difficult to understand for those not actively engaged in civics courses. In the same breath that it discusses subarticles of charter documents from nearly a century ago, The Veto and its numerous contributors explain the real-life implications of that language in a palatable, easy-to-understand way.
The Veto reminds us that the only way to remedy the ills of the world is to first name them so that they may be recognized for their severity. Then, and only then, can the powers that be be reminded that their collective purpose is not the accumulation of power or persuasion, but the protection of people under their purview. Highly Recommended.
Which library audiences should see this political and social science documentary?
At initial blush, the main audiences this film is geared toward are scholars of politics and international law, but it would be just as easily appreciated by students of civics, political science, or legal studies. It cites its sources, providing easy access to primary sources for students to acquaint themselves with as they grow in their understanding of the UN and its inner workings. Considering NYU’s Jennifer Trahan holds an active discussion with her students during the course of the documentary, this piece is perfectly suitable for young adults interested in human rights law, as well as more mature audiences who understand exactly what the ramifications are of failing to adapt as the world around them changes.
Is this documentary a good choice for community screenings or discussion-based programming?
In terms of discussion-based programming geared toward civics, political science, or international law, there is no better or more timely viewing than The Veto. It objectively explains difficult-to-understand language for easier digestion of information while also providing historical context for the world in which the United Nations and the Security Council Charter were developed. Given the poignant and timely subject matter and the increasing general awareness of world politics on a daily basis, The Veto is a perfect addition for any library or school that wishes to provide a space for community members to learn about the laws that affect them and what power they have in the face of them.
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