The United Nations (UN) Security Council's mandate is to diffuse conflicts and provide opposing parties with an opportunity to settle conflicts non-violently. The council has influence in every corner of the globe. Some UN members believe that the council's five permanent members--the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France--have had too much control. Despite these criticisms, the Security Council continues to work hard on behalf of world peace. Learn more about the UN's seat of power in The UN Security Council and the Center of Power, one of the titles in The United Nations series.