This study is dedicated to the analysis of the regional role of Brazil and Latin American countries in leading the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) from 2004 to 2017. The paper examines the reasons for the active participation of regional states, the peculiarities of their foreign policy strategies, and the impact of this participation on the international peacekeeping system. Special attention is given to Brazil's role as a leading participant and commander of the military component of the mission—the first instance in which a Global South country fulfilled such a function in a large-scale UN operation. The research is based on the analysis of normative documents from the United Nations Security Council, official mission mandates, data on troop contributions, and numerous academic and analytical sources. Key stages of the mission's evolution, the impact of Brazil's participation on its development, and the consequences for regional and global security policy are identified. The first component of the methodological framework is a qualitative approach used in leading studies on the dynamics of UN peacekeeping operations, including the work of Terán (2019), where the peacekeeping mission is analyzed based on an in-depth study of primary and secondary data, including official UN documents, publications in academic journals, and international reports. In conclusion, this article argues that the participation of Brazil and Latin American countries in the MINUSTAH mission has become a significant phenomenon in international peacekeeping practice, characterized as both a unique regional initiative and an important contribution to the global conflict management system. MINUSTAH was established by the UN Security Council in 2004 through resolution No. 1542. Brazil's strategic participation represents an unprecedented case: a Global South country became a key strategic actor in a UN-led operation, which had previously been dominated by states with higher levels of economic and military power. More than 37,500 Brazilian military personnel were deployed in MINUSTAH in rotations from 2004 to 2017. Regional countries in Latin America, such as Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, also contributed to MINUSTAH.

Peacekeeping operations in the 21st century have evolved beyond traditional stability mission to encompass more complex objectives, including civilian protection, conflict resolution, and the management of asymmetric threats. In this shifted paradigm, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) technologies present unique prospects to improve operational effectiveness and safety of peacekeeping personnel. While there is substantial research on military applications of AI, there remains a striking lack of studies exploring the integration of AI within the UN's peacekeeping mission. This study aims to examine how AI and AI-enabled virtual reality (VR) simulations can enhance the preparedness and response of peacekeepers deployed in high-risk areas. This study is qualitative in nature and adopts phenomenological approach. This research explores the experiences of peacekeepers who were deployed in countries such as Democracy Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Mali, and Central African Republic (CAR). It also includes perspectives from experts involved in peacekeeping training department. Findings indicate that AI technologies, particularly with respect to surveillance and intelligence gathering, have potential to enhance situational awareness and lessen the risks posed from emerging threats. Furthermore, AI-driven virtual reality (VR) training simulation creates opportunities for peacekeepers to exercise and enhance their skill of interacting with the community and assist in decision making. Nonetheless, the study also highlights challenges and concerns, including ethical consideration, potential violations of core peacekeeping principles and limitations in the resources required to build AI-based infrastructure. The research demonstrates the potential of AI and VR to transform and modernize peacekeeping, but stressed the need for responsible implementation, recognizing the fundamental cause of peace and stability.

This research aims to explore and analyse the role of Gayo music and dance performances as agents of social change in strengthening social cohesion and cultural sustainability within the Gayo community in Central Aceh. The research is motivated by the importance of the performing arts as a medium for preserving cultural identity and uniting communities, particularly in the face of the challenges posed by globalization, which threatens the sustainability of local traditions. The urgency of the research lies in the need to understand concrete strategies for utilizing traditional arts for social purposes, as well as to fill the gap in the literature regarding the unique elements of Guel music and dance in the context of social change. The research method employed was a mixed-methods approach with a sequential explanatory design, combining a quantitative survey of 176 participants with a qualitative phenomenological study of 25 participants. The study’s results showed that participation in Guel performances, particularly through the “Saturday Arts” and “Annual Festival” programs, significantly increased the community’s sense of belonging, cultural pride, and social involvement. Quantitative data analysis showed an increase in governance and conservation indicators by 13.6% and 23.6%, respectively, while qualitative data revealed Guel’s role in value education, gender inclusivity, and intercultural dialogue. The discussion relates this finding to Bourdieu’s theory of social capital, confirming that Guel functions as a social glue (bonding capital), a bridge between groups (bridging capital), and a transformer of cultural capital into social capital. This research recommends the development of inclusive cultural policies, the integration of traditional arts into the educational curriculum, and a community-based governance approach to ensure the sustainability of Guel music and dance as an intangible cultural heritage and a unifying force for society.

This study analyzes the role of the Indonesian Army Engineer Company (Kompi Zeni TNI AD) – Garuda Contingent in MONUSCO in the United Nations peacekeeping mission under MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The research focus is directed at the contribution of this unit in supporting security sector reforms and post-conflict development in Beni Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study fills a research gap related to the involvement of Indonesian military engineering units in peace missions, which has so far highlighted more aspects of diplomacy and infantry forces. The method used is descriptive qualitative with in-depth interview techniques, field observations, and documentation studies. Primary data were obtained through the direct experience of Zeni Company Task Force personnel in the field, while secondary data came from MONUSCO reports, UN publications, and academic literature. The analysis was carried out through data reduction, presentation, and triangulation verification to ensure the validity of the findings. The results of the study show that the TNI AD Zeni Company plays an important role in the development of strategic infrastructure such as the Beni-Eringeti-Kainama road and the Halulu bridge, which have a real impact on improving the security, mobility, and welfare of the local community. These findings confirm that the participation of the Zeni Company not only strengthens the effectiveness of MONUSCO's mandate in civilian protection, but also strengthens Indonesia's defense diplomacy and demonstrates a model of military-civilian synergy in realizing sustainable peace in Africa.

This paper examines how Serbia’s anti-lithium environmental protests, centred on opposition to Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium mine, are situated within the country’s broader history of civic mobilisation and democratic struggle for change. As part of the methodology, this study draws upon social movement theory (particularly the concepts of political opportunity structures and cultural framing) alongside cultural resistance scholarship, which explores the relationship between protest music and contemporary socio-political events. It also engages with environmental democracy frameworks, focusing on public participation rights. Together, these theoretical perspectives are useful in demonstrating how protest music operates as both a cultural and political resource in processes of social and political transformation. Furthermore, drawing on qualitative discourse analysis of news reports, non-governmental organisations’ (NGO) statements, activist interviews, and two popular protest songs, “Fire in Darkness” and “March Out of My Yard” (Vatra u mraku and Marš iz moje avlije), the study investigates the role of cultural expression, such as music, in sustaining activism. It also considers the fusing impact of the November 2024 Novi Sad railway station tragedy, which catalysed a broader pro-democracy coalition by linking environmental grievances to systemic governance failures. The paper argues that the Serbian case illustrates how environmental movements in post-socialist contexts can evolve into multi-issue campaigns for democratic accountability, with protest music and popular cultural production acting as a unifying force across social divides.

This article employs a decolonial lens to analyze the historical and sociocultural trajectory of the guitar in New Spain and Mexico, interrogating its role as both a colonial imposition and a symbol of national identity. It argues that the introduction of the guitar during Spanish colonization constituted a long-term act of cultural violence that displaced Indigenous musical traditions, reinforced Eurocentric hegemony, and facilitated the erasure of Indigenous expression. Through historical analysis, critique of Eurocentric music documentation, and examination of oral traditions (refranes), the study reveals how colonial hierarchies persisted after independence, mythologizing mestizaje as a unifying force while perpetuating processes of de-indigenization and paving the way for Indigenous developments in guitar traditions. The article applies Víctor Hernández Vaca’s Ethnolutherie—a methodology centered on material culture and instrument-making—to recentralize marginalized narratives of the guitar’s integration into diverse communities. The text underscores the guitar’s dual legacy: its flourishing in Mexican folklore is intrinsically tied to colonial violence, even as its material and cultural development reflects Indigenous and mestizo agency. The conclusion calls for the decentering of Europe in music studies, greater recognition of colonial violence, and a reimagining of the guitar’s place in Mexican identity beyond Eurocentric frameworks, attending to less explored perspectives. By articulating historical critique with decolonial analysis, this article challenges romanticized narratives of cultural fusion, urging recognition of the lasting impacts of colonialism and suggesting new, less-explored avenues for future research.

One of the key mechanisms for maintaining international peace and security is the UN–NATO partnership in peacekeeping missions. The aim of this study is to assess the partnership between the UN and NATO in peacekeeping missions and to provide recommendations on the necessary reform of approaches to global security. The research methodology includes systemic, graphical, content analysis, quantitative, and comparative analyses. The findings, based on nine examined operations, show that the operational effectiveness of peacekeeping missions increases as a result of the UN–NATO partnership. The UN’s diplomatic and humanitarian expertise is complemented by NATO’s military capabilities, which enhances the overall effectiveness of joint operations. Additionally, NATO-supported training of UN peacekeepers and the exchange of intelligence increase the operational potential of missions. However, strategic divergences between the two institutions complicate the joint management process, and the absence of established mechanisms for information exchange remains one of the key challenges. The results of the study may be utilised in the formulation of political strategies, the enhancement of peacekeeping-mission mechanisms, and the development of effective models for inter-institutional cooperation between the UN and NATO. Prospects for future research include the study of cooperation between the UN and NATO, with particular attention paid to the use of new technologies to improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, as well as clarifying the division of responsibilities between global partners.

This article explores the profound historical and religious connection between Chhuksang, a sacred village in Mustang, Nepal, and Muktinath, a revered pilgrimage site in the Muktinath Valley, through the lens of Guru Padmasambhava’s enduring legacy. Drawing upon historical records, oral traditions, and religious texts, the study highlights the role of Mustang as a spiritual corridor linking Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices centred in Chhuksang with the Hindu-Buddhist syncretism embodied at Muktinath. Here, this article deals with the trade cum pilgrimage passes that were connected the concerned sites, to emphasize Guru Padmasambhava’s relevance as unifying force in correlating Vajrayāna with Vedic rituals and practices. Along with this, I am also going to highlight the continued spiritual practices, rituals, and cultural exchanges that have preserved and invigorated the shared heritage of Chhuksang and Muktinath by situating these sites in Himalaya’s religious landscapes to understanding the dynamic chemistry between geography, spirituality, and cultural identity in Mustang’s sacred landscape.

This article analyzes the potential psychological effects on military personnel involved in United Nations peacekeeping operations in the context of the consolidation of the legal concept of the Responsibility while Protecting (RwP). The research problem addresses the risks to the mental health of these military personnel arising from increased exposure to dangerous situations, especially in missions that incorporate robust Protection of Civilians (POC) mandates. Initially, the study examines the evolution of Human Rights in International Law, highlighting the relativization of state sovereignty in cases of a State’s inability or unwillingness to protect its own population. In this context, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) emerges as a paradigm that links sovereignty to the duty of protection, legitimizing the action of the international community when serious violations of fundamental rights occur. United Nations peacekeeping operations thus assume a central role in implementing this duty. Subsequently, the article addresses the Responsibility while Protecting as the operational dimension of R2P, materialized primarily through the Protection of Civilians in peacekeeping mandates. POC prioritizes the safeguarding of the civilian population, allowing, when authorized, the use of force to prevent or respond to threats. United Nations reports indicate that missions with POC mandates have recorded a significant reduction in attacks against civilians, their property, and cultural heritage, adopting more proactive and preventive postures. However, such missions require larger troop deployments, increase operational costs, and result in greater exposure of military personnel to direct risks. The article then focuses on analyzing the psychological impacts of this increased exposure to risk. Based on the literature of Military Psychology, it demonstrates that combat stress is a predictable reaction to hostile environments and should not be understood as individual weakness. Asymmetric and urban conflicts—common in contemporary peacekeeping operations—present high rates of psychiatric casualties, affecting operational performance and troop safety. Although UN reports do not provide specific data on evacuations for psychological reasons, comparative studies indicate that such rates may be significant. It is concluded that, although the RwP and the Protection of Civilians represent important advances in the defense of Human Rights and in reducing civilian suffering, these instruments entail substantial challenges to the mental health of deployed military personnel. It therefore becomes essential for the UN and troop-contributing countries to systematically integrate Military Psychology into the planning, execution, and follow-up of peacekeeping operations, ensuring protection not only for civilians but also for those responsible for protecting them.

This paper aims to examine how the Arab-British novelist Leila Aboulela portrays the distinctive relationship between her protagonist, Akuany, and the Nile in her recent novel, River Spirit (2023), set during the Mahdist Revolution (1881–1898). This study employs the geocritical approach to examine the interaction between physical spaces and human experiences, highlighting how landscapes influence identity and memory. It analyzes the river not as a mere physical entity but as a personified character with profound cultural and political significations, demonstrating Aboulela’s ability to make geography a means of conveying emotional and historical resonance, playing a vital role in the narrative. Born in a village in South Sudan, Akuany remains attached to the river despite being forced to peregrinate around the country because of the ongoing armed conflicts. Aboulela frames Akuany’s circular journey, from Malakal to Al-Ubayyid, to Khartoum, to Omdurman, and back to her village, as both a physical and spiritual passage in which the Nile emerges as a living, unifying force that transcends colonial and political borders, shaping Sudanese identity through memory, belonging, and resilience. Akuany’s views on the places she is taken to, as well as her feelings towards the individuals she encounters, are influenced by their proximity to the river. Her feelings towards the individuals she encounters are shaped by their perceptions of the river. Hence, this paper investigates Akuany’s thoughts and emotions about the river to explore how Aboulela aesthetically transforms the Nile from a natural body of water into a breathing soul that speaks and listens. This study further emphasizes the novel’s contribution to postcolonial and environmental literary studies by connecting human experience with natural landscapes. In a novel that traces the shifting fortunes of prominent leaders, the Nile remains unchanged, as does Akuany’s unwavering devotion to it.

The article analyzes regional military exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in particular, the Peace Mission and Anti-Terror maneuvers, with an emphasis on their impact on the balance of power and stability in Eurasia. In the context of global transformations and the growing role of regional associations, the SCO acts as a key platform for multilateral military cooperation. The Peace Mission and Anti-Terror exercises, held under the auspices of the Organization, are aimed at practicing joint actions of member states in countering terrorism, extremism and separatism, which contributes to increasing operational compatibility and building up anti-terrorist potential. However, in addition to the stated goals, holding large-scale maneuvers has a significant impact on the regional balance of power, giving rise to discussions about their legitimacy and true motives. The article examines how the SCO exercises contribute to strengthening or, on the contrary, complicate the situation in Eurasia, and identifies the factors that determine their perception by various actors. Particular attention is paid to the Kazakh perspective, analysis of the impact of internal contradictions, as well as the role of transparency and communication in forming a positive image of the exercises.

Migration continues to shape contemporary Nigeria by influencing demographic patterns, cultural practices, and communicative behaviour across regions. This paper examines the linguistic aspects of migration in Nigeria, highlighting how language functions in ways earlier studies only partly addressed. Unlike previous works that stressed either social or demographic outcomes, this study focuses on language as both a unifying force and a divisive element in migrant integration. It considers how communication shapes identity, belonging, and intercultural relations within a multilingual environment. Drawing on secondary sources such as literature, policy texts, and Nigerian case studies, the research adopts a qualitative descriptive method. The analysis, informed by language contact theory and communication accommodation theory, shows how migrants adapt linguistically and how host communities respond. Findings indicate that migration generates code-switching, language shift, and hybrid forms, while also endangering minority languages. The study contributes by foregrounding language as a central factor for managing diversity and promoting social cohesion in Nigeria.

Abstract Finland has a robust history in international peacekeeping extending from UN operations in the Middle East to nato -led missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Finland’s participation in international peacekeeping operations has been informed by the country’s foreign and security policy that has evolved from Cold War neutrality to recent nato -membership. Current geopolitical changes, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, have redefined the Finnish security environment. It is topical to assess the drivers underlying Finnish peacekeeping policy and consider the future of Finnish peacekeeping. This study finds that, overall, Finnish participation has provided an important framework for integration with the country’s West European peers as well as for strengthening its transatlantic relations, especially after the end of the Cold War. Finland can be expected to continue to strengthen security cooperation based on aligned security interests on both a bilateral and multilateral basis within and beyond the nato framework. These pursuits will also inform future Finnish participation in international peacekeeping and other military crisis management.

Abstract With no new UN peacekeeping operations authorized since 2017, are they a relic of the past? This article argues that that although UN peacekeeping faces significant headwinds, there are alternatives that fill, at least in part, the gaps. Specifically, there are six alternatives that appear possible, and often likely, in the near future: (1) a return to narrowly mandated UN operations that monitor cease-fires after limited peace agreements, (2) operations carried out by regional organizations, (3) limited actions involving UN civilian police, (4) UN peace initiatives emphasizing diplomacy and technical assistance, (5) “minilateral coalitions of the willing”, and (6) privatization, involving private security services.

The article presents a comprehensive examination of the Russian Federation’s use of United Nations (UN) mechanisms to advance its geopolitical objectives, obstruct international initiatives that contradict its policy, and wage information and psychological warfare. The analysis indicates that the Russian Federation’s participation in the UN Security Council lacks a clear legal foundation, raising questions about the legitimacy of its use of veto power’. It is documented that Russia systematically uses this privilege to veto resolutions aimed at condemning its aggression and investigating war crimes, thereby prolonging the war and evading accountability. Significant attention is given to Russia’s manipulation of UN peacekeeping operations, which it seeks to exploit to consolidate control over occupied territories. The study emphasizes Russia’s information and psychological operations within the UN, which facilitate the spread of disinformation, undermine trust in international institutions, and adversely influence state voting on critical resolutions in the General Assembly. The results obtained illustrate the necessity of revamping the UN decision-making mechanism, particularly by limiting aggressor states’ ability to exercise the veto in their own interests. Proposed procedural reforms aim to enhance the UN’s effectiveness in maintaining peace and safeguarding international security.

Regulatory T cell, the peacekeeping force in host defense system, received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2025

Military operations are a sensitive political issue, particularly in Germany, where a cautious attitude toward the use of armed forces prevails due to the country‘s historical legacy after World War II. As a result, the Ministry of Defense must justify its involvement in military operations to the German public. In this context, social media has become a common tool that plays a role in legitimizing military actions. Previous research has shown that different forms of heroism can contribute to the legitimation of military interventions. This paper examines the Bundeswehr’s presence on Facebook to explore how German soldiers participating in the peacekeeping mission MINUSMA are portrayed as heroes. Despite the growing relevance of military issues in Europe, there has been little research on how the Bundeswehr communicates. To address this gap, Facebook posts about MINUSMA published by the Bundeswehr were analyzed using a qualitative framing analysis to explore how heroic figures are verbally and visually constructed. The analysis reveals that heroism is a central theme, and that the specific portrayal of heroic figures reflects Germany’s political commitments – namely, to protect civilians, secure peace, and promote freedom from violence. Furthermore, the communication surrounding MINUSMA is designed to bridge the gap between soldiers and civilians.

United Nations peacekeeping continues to be tied to Canadian identity, albeit in complex and contradictory ways. This research study was motivated by Canada's Elsie Initiative and renewed rhetorical commitments to feminist foreign policy under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. It draws on in-depth interviews with Canadian servicewomen and veterans deployed on UN peacekeeping operations from the 1990s to the early 2020s. Its aim is to understand how peacekeeping continues to be tied to Canadian identity, despite Canada's decline in contributions, and how Canadian women peacekeepers make sense of their roles on missions, including their views on whether their participation improves operational effectiveness. Interview participants described peacekeeping as both meaningful and fraught. Many resisted narratives that position women as solutions to complex mission challenges, noting the burdens of visibility and stereotyping, among others. Contributing to literature on Canadian peacekeeping and its gendered underpinnings, the findings can inform future policy directions.

Between 1990 and 2002, Nigeria was crucial in regional peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia, primarily to restore peace and stability in these two countries. There have been ethical questions regarding official engagements by the Nigerian peacekeeping personnel. There were cases of negation of rules of engagement, as well as involvement of the peacekeepers in illegal and corrupt practices. Although there have been studies on Nigeria’s peacekeeping operations in Africa, ethical dimension of Nigeria’s peacekeeping missions in the two countries has not been given adequate attention. Hence, this study examined sexual exploitation and human right abuses as two critical ethical issues involving Nigeria’s peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The study employed qualitative-descriptive design and purposive sampling technique where 7 interviewees were selected to participate in a semi-structured interview. The responses of the interviewees were subjected to thematic and content analyses. Secondary data were gathered through review of books, journal articles, archival materials, official reports. Professional Ethics Theory was adopted as a theoretical framework of analysis. According to the findings, there were documented evidences of human rights violations which include: sexual exploitations, extrajudicial killings and abuses against civilians. These situations brought up moral and ethical questions regarding official military engagement and behavioural patterns of the Nigerian peacekeeper in two countries under investigation and Africa in general. The study therefore concluded that Nigeria played a key role in ending the internal conflicts in the two countries but issues revolving around ethical considerations raised major concerns. The study recommended that Nigeria improves on the training of peacekeepers on international humanitarian law. Peacekeeping missions should prioritize ethical considerations to ensure that peacekeeping operations by the Nigerian troops are carried out in line with globally acceptable standards.

We investigate a combined conservative field, in which classical gravitational and electrostatic sources also exhibit mutual interactions. Hitherto neglected, the coupling between mass and charge may be necessary for constructing a unified conservative force field generated by a single underlying source. We determine the coupling constant of the cross-field components as the geometric mean (G-M) of Newton’s G and Coulomb’s K constants, in both SI units and dimensionless form. Consequently, for two identical objects, the cross-force (F×) is the G-M of the familiar Newton (Fg) and Coulomb (Fe) forces, so that F×=FgFe, where Fg≪F×≪Fe. Remarkably, such cross-forces should be measurable in torsion balance experiments involving a suspended neutral mass interacting with a partially ionized gas. Furthermore, we apply our new formulation to estimate the dimensionless amplitude ∥hαβTT∥ of gravitational waves that are emitted by inspiraling Reissner–Nordström (RN) black hole binaries, expressed in terms of ratios of the four fundamental lengths of the problem: the distance to the binary D, the binary separation R, the Schwarzschild radius RS∝2M of mass M, and the RN charge (Q) length scale LQ∝2Q. In this classical setting with speeds much lower than the speed of light c in vacuum, the surprising appearance of the maximum relativistic tension force Fmax=c4/(4G) is duly noted.