Peace Operations in a Changed “Warscape”: A Call for Polydexterity

Abstract

The current warfare and peace-fare are radically different from how they were imagined after World War II when the United Nations (UN) was established and the foundations for international peace (keeping) operations were formulated. Though peace (keeping) operations have over the years evolved into different generations to adapt to changing circumstances, they are seriously challenged to keep up with the fundamental changes witnessed today. This chapter discusses some of the current political and military challenges affecting peace operations. It is argued that in order to remain relevant and effective, further changes are needed both in the way operations are framed politically and designed and implemented in military practice. UN Reforms till date, however, were only able to deliver such changes partially. As Joseph Soeters noted in 2017, this means for the military to become ambidextrous to employ different military skill sets concurrently (Shields and Travis 2017: 66). This article argues that even more is needed: The political and military challenges and the lack of significant reform require from the military in the field and at headquarters to become “polydextrous” in order to accomplish at least a modicum of success in contemporary peace operations.