Peacekeeping Efforts Research Articles

In the Name of Peace or Self-Interest? States’ Intentions in Peacekeeping Operations and Impacts on the Effectiveness of Troop Contributions

ABSTRACT This article argues that states’ intention to support peacekeeping efforts is essential to legitimize their participation in peacekeeping operations (PKOs). Moreover, while such a condition positively influences troop performance, particularistic reasons do not motivate soldiers for critical tasks. The topic is explored through theoretical considerations on legitimacy in peacekeeping, a critical analysis of states’ reasons for joining PKOs, and an examination of Brazilian and German peacekeeping experiences in Haiti and the Balkans as a case study. The research contributes significantly to the literature by unravelling the interplay between the intentions of troop contributors and the effectiveness of their peacekeepers.

Competitive Peacekeeping Interventions, State Factionalisation and the Escalation of Organised Violence: the Case of Syria

Abstract This study investigates the paradox of peacekeeping interventions exacerbating conflict intensity, particularly when executed by various competing powers rather than the UN, through the lens of the Syrian conflict. By tracing the causal pathway from intervention to state factionalisation and subsequent violence escalation, we utilise novel data highlighting the impact of corruptive state factionalism on conflict dynamics in Syria. Through qualitative and quantitative analyses, we show that competitive interventions create credible threats and mobilise violence, thus intensifying the conflict. This research underscores the necessity for non-partisan, UN-led peacekeeping efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of competitive interventions in fragile states.

Coups, Regional Security Complexes and the Impact of Nigeria’s Peacekeeping in West Africa, 1960–2022

Over the years, Africa has continued to experience conflicts caused by civil wars and the tussle for power through military coups. Despite having the Mediation & Security Council within ECOWAS, it has been unable to create sustainable peace within the region. The many porous borders between the countries further exacerbate the complexities of its regional security. The consequences of these problems usually affect neighbouring countries, thereby resulting in regional security complexes and the consequent challenges of peacekeeping operations. This paper uses historical, descriptive and comparative analysis by focusing on coups as precursors to security challenges in the region of West Africa and the resulting peacekeeping operations by countries such as Nigeria. Based on the premise of ECOWAS, it introduces some conflicts caused by coups; the challenges of Regional Security Complex in West Africa and the examination of Nigerian Peacekeeping efforts. Furthermore, it offers some recommendations towards sustainable regional peace. Results show that there is a need for the African Union (AU) to do more to secure the continent. Reliance on non-African countries to support its internal security problems has become counterproductive. It recommends that Nigeria should temporarily suspend its peacekeeping operations and channel its resources towards addressing its internal security challenges; that the AU must establish a standing army as a quick response force to address the various continental crises before they become exponential threats and that ECOWAS should implement its common currency plan. Finally, the African Union must develop best practices that can alleviate poverty and guarantee security in line with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Security in Neutrality: Chinese Engagement In the Middle East and the Red Sea Crisis

AbstractChina's interests have expanded rapidly in the Middle East since the turn of the century, and it is now the leading trade partner for many states in the region. The unrest sparked by the war between Israel and Hamas, including the Red Sea shipping crisis that imperils global trade, threatens those interests. The perceived absence of deep Chinese participation in trying to resolve these emergencies contrasts with previous peacekeeping efforts and raises questions about Beijing's willingness to take part in global‐security initiatives. This article analyzes variations in Chinese decision making on the use of force and diplomacy in the Middle East. Based on publicly available data, an examination of sources in English and Chinese, and interviews previously conducted in China, we develop a three‐pronged typology that explains Chinese strategic behavior in the region: military engagement, perceived free riding, and diplomacy. The article contributes to the literatures of security studies, Chinese foreign and military policy, and the security of the Middle East.

The Peacekeeping Failure in South Sudan: The UN, Bias, and Peacekeeper's Mind by Mark Millar

The book review on ‘The Peacekeeping Failure in South Sudan: The UN, Bias, and Peacekeeper's Mind,’ covers the author Mark Millar's examination of the complexities of the United Nations' (UN) attempts to promote peace in South Sudan, shedding light on the reasons for their failure via painstaking investigation and perceptive analysis. This book provides a thorough analysis of the difficulties and shortfalls that have influenced peacekeeping efforts in South Sudanese context, ranging from examining the psychological prejudices of peacekeepers to closely scrutinizing the structural constraints of the enactment of UN peacekeeping.

Empowering Change: The Evolving Role of Women in NATO-led Stability Operations

The participation of women in peacekeeping and stability operations, particularly within the framework of NATO missions, has evolved significantly over the years. This article explores the changing role of women in NATO-led operations, tracing the historical trajectory from the Revolutionary War to present-day peacekeeping efforts. It examines the integration of women into peacekeeping plans, the significance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, and current initiatives aimed at enhancing women's participation in stability operations. Despite progress, persistent challenges and barriers continue to hinder the full realization of gender equality within peacekeeping missions. The article concludes with recommendations for advancing women's roles in peace operations, emphasizing the importance of concerted efforts by international organizations, member states, and civil society to promote gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment in conflict resolution and peacebuilding endeavors.

The negative security impacts of hate speech in Nigeria

Most conflicts in Nigeria are consequences of hate speech, marginalization anddivisions along religious and ethnic lines. Using qualitative content analysis, thispaper sets out to highlight cases of hate speech and the consequent impact on peace inNigeria and on its peacekeeping efforts. Results show the dangerous role of the mediain broadcasting hate speech and its contagious multiplier effects: the impunity oftraditional rulers; the failure of effective prosecution and the need to temporarilywithdraw Nigerian troops from peacekeeping missions. It further makesrecommendations towards ideas on how Nigeria could effectively address theunderlying issues towards preventing hate crime and achieving better conflictresolution mechanisms.

Rwanda: Genocide and International Humanitarian Law

It was difficult to hold the international world, led by Boutros-Ghali, accountable for starting the Rwandan genocide, which was fueled by vile propaganda and the residual anger of the past that the prime minister's assassination had stoked. However, the UN might be held accountable for ignoring its obvious warning signals. The notorious "genocide fax" was sent to UN headquarters in January by General Romeo Dallaire, the Canadian commander of the tiny international peacekeeping force stationed in Rwanda. He alerted readers about the Hutu junta's intentions to "register all Tutsi" in order to get ready "for their extermination." Gen. Dallaire asked for permission to raid weapons caches that might end up in the hands of Hutus and facilitate their murderous plans in order to stop the carnage. At the time, Kofi Annan led UN peacekeeping efforts. refused his request, citing the need for the blue helmets to maintain their neutrality. The UN would turn a blind eye to the Rwandan situation, just like Pilate did, and genocide would ensue. To address this gap in action, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) protocol was created, outlining a series of situations in which the UN can and ought to step in. The R2P protocol's development is the topic of this study. The topic of the UN is then examined, with a focus on the organization's capacity to deal with violations of human rights. Using Rwanda as a case study, the Responsibility to Protect protocol is discussed along with the difficulties Rwanda faces in applying international humanitarian law. Given this, the creation of the R2P protocolis reviewed, including background information and contemporary implications. A summary of the key ideas and issues covered in this research work is provided in the conclusion

The Transformative Role of Artificial Intelligence in Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a pivotal tool in modern conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts. This essay examines the multifaceted impact of AI technologies within this context. It explores the ways AI-powered analytics have enhanced the early warning systems, improved data-driven decision-making processes, and provides deeper insights through advanced conflict analysis. Additionally, AI-driven simulations and predictive modeling offer the potential to forecast conflict dynamics and guide more effective peacekeeping interventions.By leveraging AI, policymakers and practitioners can develop proactive strategies for conflict prevention and resolution, leading to sustainable peace and stability worldwide. This paper underscores the transformative potential of AI in reshaping traditional approaches to conflict management, offering new avenues for promoting global peace and security.

War and Peacekeeping: Personal Reflections on Conflict and Lasting Peace by Martin Bell

War and Peacekeeping: Personal Reflections on Conflict and Lasting Peace" by Martin Bell offers a profound examination of war journalism and peacekeeping efforts. Drawing from experiences in conflict zones like Bosnia and Somalia, Bell highlights the human toll of war and critiques the challenges faced by peacekeepers and journalists. Nonetheless, "War and Peacekeeping" remains a significant contribution to the discourse on conflict resolution, emphasizing the imperative of acknowledging human suffering amid global strife.

Peacekeeping Efforts of the Organisation of African Unity in the Chadian Conflict of 1979–1987 Based on OAU Documents

This paper studies the role the Organisation of African Unity played in the Chadian conflict (civil war and Libyan intervention) resolution process between 1979 and 1987. It focuses on the analysis of documents deriving from this organisation devoted to the matter in concern. Special attention is paid to the determining of the stages of OAU peacekeeping development and evolution in Chad, highlighting the differences among participant states in their approaches to conflict resolution and particular political forces involved in the conflict and partially reflecting the Cold War context. Emphasis is put on the matters of the extent to which the war in Chad was influenced by the global context of a standoff between the West and the Socialist blocs, the transformation of external actors’ policies towards Chad during the conflict, and the impact these changes had on the success of the peace-making efforts. The events in focus are the first case of a peacekeeping operation mandated and fielded largely by Africa’s key integration organisation as its track record significantly determined the further development of African peacekeeping efforts. Today this experience is crucial to the modern African Union and other relevant regional structures’ peacekeeping operations. The paper relies on a complex of general historic methods related to the introduction, analysis, and structuring of new information deriving from archival sources found in the collections of the Organisation of African Unity. The author also refers to publications by Russian and foreign scholars specialising in this field, simultaneously offering alterations to the narratives they previously introduced concerning the interpretation of the Chadian conflict events based on the source analysis conducted in this article.

Analyzing the Israel-Palestine Conflicts: Assessing the Impact and Effectiveness of the Involvement of Islamic Countries

With their intricate political, theological, and practical complexities, the Israel-Palestine conflicts have persisted as one of the longest-lasting and most intricate geopolitical wars. This research explores the complex dynamics of the conflicts, concentrating on the role that Islamic countries have played. In the context of an ongoing and ambiguous dispute, this investigation aims to analyze the provocations, tactics, and influence of Islamic countries in determining the trajectory of the Israel-Palestine conflicts. The study defines the necessity for a focused discourse on the role of Islamic countries and points out gaps in existing research through a thorough literature review and a detailed analysis of literal and contemporary elements. The investigation items comprise an analysis of the provocation that led Islamic countries to participate in the wars, a review of the tactics used in the military, political, and economic spheres, a study of the influence on peacekeeping efforts, and a list of the obstacles and constraints that these countries had to deal with. The theoretical framework analyzes the actions and viewpoints of Islamic nations in the context of the Israel-Palestine disputes by drawing on transnational relations theories such as constructivism, literalism, and leftism.

Special Issue on the Evolving Nature of African-Led Peace Support Operations and African Armies

Abstract This special issue delves into the evolving nature of African-led Peace Support Operations and their development over the last two decades. The authors explore how states have improved their security and military capabilities to face emerging and existing threats. The papers in this issue illustrate how African-led operations have progressed and how they have been designed to stabilise states, environments, and regions. These operations have been complemented by Regional Economic Communities/ Regional Mechanisms (recs/rms) and Ad-hoc Security Initiatives, which have all deployed intervention missions to tackle various challenges. The papers also note that the increasing presence of African troops in UN missions with stabilisation mandates has allowed the au, recs/rms, and state military to learn through training, national rules of engagement, and civil-military relations and to contribute diverse first-hand experience in African-led Peace Support Operations and UN peacekeeping efforts. Finally, the special issue explores whether some sub-Saharan African states have employed restructuring policies by deploying forces to African-led psos and UN peacekeeping operations and whether this strategy has impacted the effectiveness of their forces.

The Palestine Commission: the forgotten chapter in United Nations peacemaking and peacekeeping in the Arab-Israeli conflict

This article examines the peacemaking and peacekeeping efforts of the United Nations (UN) Palestine Commission, which was charged with implementing the General Assembly’s Resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine between January and May 1948. First, I argue here that the marginalization of the Commission in past literature is unjustified. Its very ineffectiveness in real time made it an important analytical case study in retrospect, elucidating the obstacles that prevented the fulfilment of the Partition Plan and exemplifying the general UN retreat from Resolution 181 shortly after its adoption. Second, the critique levied against the personal/professional abilities of its delegates by some of its contemporaries seems exaggerated; more important were the external, insurmountable problems the Commission faced, which would have likely overwhelmed even the best of diplomats.

Yugo Wars: A Case Study on the Peacekeeping Efforts in Bosna-Hercegovina

This article is an examination of the history of ex-Yugoslavia, more specifically the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and its immediate neighbors. A brief history of imperialism, religious influence, and the impact of the World Wars within BiH will lead to a discussion on nationalist-separatism and Balkan independence movements. The article focuses on the drive behind, and the outcome of, the 1992 war within BiH that stemmed from BiH’s desire to be independent from Yugoslavia. The primary perspectives within the article are that of the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. Outside actors such as Serbia, Russia, the United States, Pakistan, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Muslim terrorist organizations, the United Nations (UN), and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will also be discussed to capture the various stakes and goals of the war. This will transition into a detailed breakdown of various UN and NATO missions, as well as their impact on the citizens and factions within BiH. The missions analyzed within this article will be the Dayton Peace Accords, the United Nations Mission in BiH (UNMIBH), the Stabilization Force (SFOR), the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), Implementation Force (IFOR), and the European Union Force (EUFOR). Transparency in BiH between parties to the conflict, the success or failure of peace enforcement, and the provision of effective rehabilitation assistance by the international community will be put into question. The article’s conclusion will analyze the value of peacekeeping within BiH as well as address the lasting social/emotional impact on the BiH community.

The Role Of Indonesian Women Soldiers As Peacekeeping Operations (Women Peacekeeper) In Maintaining World Peace

After the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, the United Nations (UN) created the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) mandate to promote gender equality and enable women's full participation in global security and peacekeeping efforts. The aim of this mandate is to ensure that women have equal access to opportunities, resources, and services, as well as the ability to participate in decision-making processes, in order to build and maintain peace and security. This research aims to analyze the role of the Indonesian Women's Army as Women Peacekeepers in maintaining world peace. In an increasingly complex era of globalization, conflicts and threats to global peace are on the rise. Involving more women in peacekeeping operations is expected to make a significant contribution to maintaining stability and world peace. The research methodology used is a qualitative approach with literature study and analysis of secondary data. This study analyzes the role of the Indonesian Women's Army in peacekeeping operations. The findings of this research indicate that the Indonesian Women's Army, as Women Peacekeepers, play a crucial role in maintaining world peace. They not only contribute to the maintenance of physical security but also play a significant role in empowering women and children, addressing cases of sexual violence, and advocating for gender equality.

Princip jednakosti pravnih sistema u međunarodnom privatnom pravu i njegov doprinos uspostavljanju i očuvanju mira

Private international law (PIL) might seem disconnected from peace building and peacekeeping efforts. However, this perception falls short. PIL, contrary to public international law's direct peacekeeping potential, indirectly contributes to peace by fostering mutual respect between states. The relationship between PIL and peace stems from the recognition and respect states show for each other's legal systems. PIL operates on the principle of comity, where states acknowledge the applicability of foreign laws to resolve cases. In essence, while PIL's impact on peace is indirect and modest, its emphasis on mutual respect and fair treatment contributes to peaceful relations between states, making it an important element in the broader context of peace building and peacekeeping efforts. Private international law (PIL) does not determine substantive fairness for parties but focuses on localizing cases at a meta-level of conflict-of-laws. This localization is guided by party, trade, and regulatory interests, and is rooted in neutrality and respect for other legal systems. While the principle of equivalence and neutrality remains foundational in PIL, exceptions and limitations have been established over time to address specific scenarios, ensuring a balanced approach that respects both foreign legal systems and fundamental legal principles.

Work of a Local NGO VETO, in Contrast with the International Organisations in the Eastern Congo

The history of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been one of long, unpeaceful turmoil. Even before the establishment of the state, there has been continuous fighting for decades, displacing and killing millions of inhabitants across this land in Central Africa. Evidence suggests that noneof the peacekeeping efforts could make valuable, long-lasting contributions while generations after generations grew up in a hostile environment. In this paper, based on empirical data gathered through research by local organisations(VETO, VACNET), we examine the wide range of deradicalisation and reintegration practices that try to rehabilitate war-affected people through mainly agricultural activities. We are also assessing the effectiveness of these activities and outline the need for further research. Finally, this paper demonstrates that local organisations may have the best means and chances to deradicalise and reintegrate people successfully.

An Evaluation of Roles and Integration of Female Soldiers in Peace Building in Central African Republic: A Case of Zambian Regiment Lusaka, Zambia.

Purpose: The rationale of this study was to evaluate the roles and integration of female soldiers in peace building in the Central African Republic, a case of a Zambian Regiment in Lusaka, Zambia. The motivation to undertake this study was premised on the fact that despite Zambian female soldiers being actively involved in the United Nations peacekeeping efforts, their special roles and responsibilities in the mission are scantly recorded. The study further sought to examine the gender dynamics and challenges encountered by female soldiers in peacekeeping operations.
 Methodology: The study adopted a qualitative approach where ninety (90) research participants were homogeneously selected and data was collected through interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions. The gathered bulk data was then transcribed and coded into categories and was thematically analysed by examining the patterns of meaning within the collected data sets and drawing inferences both explicitly and implicitly.
 Findings: The major findings revealed that Zambian female soldiers were actively engaged in community activities; force protection; public health and human rights advocacy; the de-escalation of gender associated cases and acting as role models to community members of Birao and Bria. Challenges encountered include male chauvinism; sexual harassment; insufficient numbers of female soldiers and suspicion of infidelity.
 Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This paper calls on Zambia Army to realign its training curriculum to incorporate gender studies and human rights issues; Acceleration of skills development of female soldiers to build capacity in advocacy on human rights and counselling strategies; Policy on quota system to be adopted to increase the strength of female soldiers during recruitment; Regional bodies under African Union should lobby for resources from the United Nations to have sufficient numbers of female soldiers on the continent to contribute in the de-escalation of conflicts on the continent.

The New Zealand Foreign Policy (2015-2019): Feminist Approach on Global Peacekeeping

Feminism in international relations studies has brought new perspective with its focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality. The adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 is a starting point of the world's attention on women’s active role in conflict and peace, encouraging UN member countries to participate in promoting Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). New Zealand, as the first self-governing country in the world to allow women suffrage in parliamentary elections, has been committed to promoting the WPS agenda, both in the region and globally. According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), New Zealand became the second most peaceful country in the world in the last few years. With no recent armed conflict and any external threats, New Zealand's National Action Plan (NAP) on the WPS agenda primarily focuses on external affairs. This article seeks to provide an analysis of how feminist values influence New Zealand’s foreign policy on peacekeeping efforts and its implications on global peace. Data shows that during the NAP implementation period (2015-2019), New Zealand has continuous improvement of GPI score, which is a measure of a country's level of peace. New Zealand's efforts to maintain world peace through its aid program to conflict-affected countries also have a relatively positive effect on the level of peace in these countries, as happened in Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea.