The UN as an International Mediator: From the Post–Cold War Era to the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

This article, in outlining the evolution of the UN's peacemaking and mediating roles from the immediate aftermath of the Cold War until well into the twenty-first century, seeks to examine challenges and opportunities and suggests possible niches for the organization's role in this field. The article argues that in the present polarized world, there may be more room for the UN in mediating conflicts less affected by the vital security interest of great powers in conflict, and it points to the challenge of competition and rivalry in relation to other candidates as mediators, such as regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and entrepreneurial state mediators. It posits that the UN's value as mediator will depend in large measure on its ability to demonstrate usefulness in today's crowded mediation environment.