Peacekeeping Research Articles

COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION AND ENERGY SECURITY POLICIES: THE 2022 KAZAKHSTAN EVENTS

The primary aim of this article is to analyse the energy security policies of the CSTO, which brings together countries of geostrategic importance in the production and transit of energy resources. The article not only seeks to highlight the synergy between military security and energy security but also to draw attention to the role of international organisations in ensuring energy security. In the study, the CSTO's initial peacekeeping mission, the 2022 intervention in Kazakhstan, is chosen as a case study, and it seeks to answer the question of what the effects of these events were. The study, based on the hypothesis that energy security will become one of the CSTO's primary fields of operation, used qualitative research method. The findings of the study indicate that following the events in Kazakhstan, the CSTO has increased its effectiveness as a security provider in the region; military strength is a key factor in achieving energy security; necessary for CSTO members should develop more active policies in the field of energy security, which is component of national and regional security; the events have also had repercussions on other energy-rich Turkic States and have given rise to concerns about Russia's growing influence in the area.

The Nature of the United Nations Peace Mission in South Sudan

This study delves into the nature of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and specifically explores UNMISS's key roles like violence reduction, political instability, the security situation, social cohesion, reduction of violence, protection of civilians and socio-economic development. The study was guided by two objectives; to assess the objectives and mandates of UNMISS, and to examine the effectiveness of the roles and mandates of UNMISS in addressing the underlying causes of conflict and fostering sustainable peace in South Sudan. The study was underpinned by two theories, conflict transformation and Liberalism institutionalism theory. The study adopted a mixed method design with a target of 3280 and a sample size of 354 which was determined by the Yamane (1967) formula. The study employed purposive, cluster, stratified, and systematic sampling. Primary data was collected through interview schedules and questionnaires which were supplemented by FGDs. While secondary data was collected through a review of various publications. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using SSP version 28 and thematic excerpts respectively. The study concludes that UNMISS has been in the front run to de-escalate hostilities by putting in place several strategies to create a conducive environment that supports dialogue and negotiation. This includes concerted DDR efforts that aim to reduce armed conflicts and prioritize the protection of civilians by fostering trust within the warring communities. Equally, UNMISS has played critical roles in ensuring social cohesion and political stability that are conducive to reconciliation and dialogue at the grassroots level. Peace-building initiatives have been achieved through missions’ commitment to the protection of human rights, social-economic development and availability of resources. The study recommends a substantial increase of resources to UNMISS and strengthening the SSR and DDR programs.

Greek Orthodox Communities, Religious Festivals, and National Identity in the Late Ottoman Empire

Abstract This article investigates the extent to which religious festivals played a formative role in shaping dynamic relations between Greek Orthodox Ottomans and the Ottoman and Greek states in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A considerable number of festivals held on recurring cycles in the Ottoman Empire served as a unifying force by bringing together Greek Orthodox groups hailing from disparate geographical locations in the Ottoman Empire, Greece, and elsewhere. Although they were primarily religious occasions, these festivals, especially Easter, carried substantial cultural and social importance since they served as a crucial catalyst in the emergence and articulation of nationalist ideals among Ottoman Greeks.

ADDRESSING FAILED STATES

This article revisits the complex issue of state failure, offering a new perspective on how systematic labeling can create contradictions among different states. The concept of state failure emerged as a significant topic in academic discussions toward the end of the 20th century and has remained a crucial item on the international agenda for decades. Various strategies have been employed to address state failure, sometimes with destructive outcomes. The United States’ initialefforts to intervene in failed states often had adverse effects. In contrast, the United Nations has continued to focus on state-building efforts, which have evolved into broader peacekeeping missions. While the U.S. interventions set some perilous precedents, the UN's approach underscores its role as a key post-war institution, striving to maintain fragile regions and prevent a complete breakdown of international stability. Although powerful sources suggest that the phenomenon of failed states is diminishing, the underlying issues of chaotic territories and weak governmental structures persist. The enduring challenge of managing these fragile states highlig hts the ongoing need for effective international strategies to prevent instability andpromote sustainable governance.We employed a range of methodologies , including case studies and qualitative analyses, to develop recommendations that align with the specified requirements.

Prospects for the Integration of China and the CSTO

Modern challenges, packages of European and American sanctions, and a special military operation in Ukraine have contributed to Russia’s reorientation to the East, not only in trade, economic and energy terms. The issue of military-political cooperation, in particular, between the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the People’s Republic of China has acquired particular relevance. The coherence of their actions both in the direction of “CSTO + 1” and “CSTO + Shanghai Cooperation Organization” contributed to the development of interaction, a new round in the development of the CSTO, although some of its participants declare the possibility of leaving the Treaty (Armenia). But there are also countries that are ready to take a more active part in its work (Syria, North Korea). At the same time, none of the CSTO countries sent their military contingents to support the Russian army in the Northern Military District.The Central Asian region occupies a special place in the system of relations between the CSTO and China: for example, the peacekeeping operation of the CSTO countries in Kazakhstan in January 2022 attracted the close attention of the Chinese authorities, which once again demonstrated their interest in regional stability. In the context of American pressure on China, its authorities have repeatedly spoken positively about jointly countering such challenges as terrorism, separatism and extremism (“three evils”).The purpose of this work is to assess the prospects for cooperation in the field of countering the “three evils”. To achieve this goal, the authors use the comparative analysis method and SWOT assessment. The authors come to the concluson that since the CSTO countries and China face similar challenges, there is a possibility of situational involvement of China in the military operations of the CSTO. Therefore, a broader consideration of the “linkage” between the CSTO and the SCO is required.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence: A Step towards the African Peace and Security Architecture

The African Peace and Security Architecture, a complex set of interrelated institutions, includes the African Union's Peace and Security Council, the African Standby Force, the Continental Early Warning System, the Peace Fund, the Panel of the Wise, and regional mechanisms.The article explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in strengthening the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It highlights the benefits of integrating AI into conflict prevention, crisis management and coordination of peacekeeping operations in Africa. Using practical examples, the article shows how AI can be used to analyze data, detect early signals of conflict, proactively manage crises, and facilitate coordination among security actors. However, it also emphasizes the importance of an ethical and inclusive approach to the adoption of these technologies in order to ensure a positive impact on peace and security in Africa.

NILAI-NILAI MODERASI BERAGAMA DALAM PENDEKATAN DAKWAH

Mainstreaming religious moderation is considered very urgent recently, due to the existence of extreme or deviant understandings of religion. So that, it requires a straight and moderate thought or understanding and mindset, and not excessively implementing Islamic values ​​in social, national and state life. Of course, what is undesirable to happen is the emergence of acts of violence or radicalism and destruction in the name of religion. With the triggers above, narrow thinking that is not moderate gives rise to ideas, the idea of ​​creating a government program on mainstreaming religious moderation, as a concrete effort toward off erroneous understandings that tend to be extreme. Religious teachings always carry a mission of peace, harmony, unity and harmonization of diversity as well as upholding the values ​​of justice and guaranteeing the human rights of every citizen. One of the efforts that needs to be made at this time is to convey the values ​​of religious moderation or wasathiyyah through tabligh pulpits, Islamic da'wah, especially since the challenges of da'wah in the contemporary era are very complex, so a soothing, moderate way of preaching is needed in conveying religious messages to people to intertwine ukhuwah Islamiyah, Ukhwuah Wathoniyah and Ukhwuah Basyariyah. Da'wah is part of the process of activity and persuasion which is leads to convey the messages of Islamic teachings, change and development and exemplary work organized into a da'wah system.

Understanding “Love” in the English Lyrics of the Original Songs by the Multilingual New Creation Church Singapore

Understanding “Love” in the English Lyrics of the Original Songs by the Multilingual New Creation Church Singapore

Exploring the impact of United Nations peacekeeping operations on the external affairs of host states

Studies of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations (PKOs) typically give scant attention to an important aspect of host states’ development: their external affairs. This article identifies ways in which UN PKOs can shape the external affairs of host states, focusing on UN peacekeeping in the post-Cold War period. We present the findings of a quantitative content analysis of key UN peacekeeping documents to establish which aspects of host state external affairs have been of concern to the UN. We then provide a conceptual framework that maps three areas of external affairs in which PKOs are particularly influential: relationship-building; institution- and diplomatic capacity-building; and the shaping of policy in domains of external affairs. We identify three pathways through which PKOs shape the external affairs of host states: mandated roles, improvised actions, and unintended consequences. Drawing on documentary analysis and original interview data, we illustrate our conceptual framework through an exploration of the impact of peacekeeping on the external affairs of two countries that have hosted large-scale UN-led peacekeeping missions in recent decades: Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Liberia.

Empty old graves of the Korean War Hill Fight

The Hill Fight of the Korean War constitutes an important chapter of the formative military conflict of the mid-twentieth century where the South Korean and other UN forces confronted the Chinese and North Korean forces. Currently, it has become a vital site of contested memory, especially in relation to the growing contest of power between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Describing South Korea’s recent initiative of missing in action (MIA)/killed in action (KIA) accounting activities on these old battlegrounds since 2000, this article looks at how public actions concerning the remains of war are intertwined with changing geopolitical conditions. This will be followed by a reflection on the limits of the prevailing art and technology of war-remains accounting.

Divine Intervention and the Unity of the Greeks during the Persian Invasion

Herodotus’ Histories shows that the Persian invasion of Greece of 480-479 BCE revealed divisions among Greek city-states. Despite these divisions, this article argues that the work also relates how Greek gods and heroes remained united in repelling the Persians, providing a lesson to Herodotus’ Panhellenic audience. To this end, the paper examines the sacred topography related to divine interventions in four narratives in the Histories: the Sepias shipwreck, the Persian siege of Delphi, the burning of the AthenianAcropolis’ olive tree, and the battle of Plataiai. Through an analysis of these narratives and their topography, the article explores how the Histories emphasizes the unified force of Greek divinities in the conflict.

From peacekeeping missions to global peacekeeping assemblages

Abstract How does the experience of peacekeeping shape the countries that contribute troops and the troops themselves, individually and collectively? Most of the peacekeeping literature's focus has traditionally been on field missions, the countries that host them and the challenges of attracting sufficient and appropriately trained troops. We suggest that more emphasis should be put not only on the locations where missions deploy, but also on the individuals, countries and institutions that make up the missions. To analytically capture this more comprehensive understanding of what peacekeeping is—its multiple effects across space—we suggest drawing on the concept of assemblages to make an analytical shift from peacekeeping missions to global peacekeeping assemblages. First, this approach abandons the prior analytical separation of field mission, host country and contributing state/organization as discrete or isolated analytical focus points. Second, it encourages a detailed empirical methodology that focuses on how multiplicities of different actors, knowledges, technologies, norms and values through power struggles and negotiations constitute assemblages in geographically dispersed locations. Third, we suggest treating peacekeeping as flexible social facts, as outcomes of the co-functioning of heterogenous actors with diverse motivations and objectives that cannot be traced back to a single, but rather multiple point(s) of origin(s).

Brazilian “soft power”. In the context of peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Lebanon

Brazilian “soft power”. In the context of peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Lebanon

평화유지와 국제연합(UN)의 역할: 이라크 전쟁 및 콩고민주공화국 평화유지군 사례를 중심으로

평화유지와 국제연합(UN)의 역할: 이라크 전쟁 및 콩고민주공화국 평화유지군 사례를 중심으로

THE USE OF CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE IN EDUCATIONAL CONTEXTS BETWEEN SPACES, IDENTITIES, ATTITUDES, AND COGNITIVE WELL-BEING

The paper explores some links between educational research, the use of cultural and environmental heritage and education, where it is possible to combine knowledge, disciplines, and skills to strengthen the cultural profile of the school population, but also to bring about important changes in attitudes and behavior. The world's cultural and environmental heritage, which collects the traces of extraordinary but also tragic events in human history, can act as a unifying force for peaceful coexistence for the whole of humanity, enabling future citizens to participate in democratic debate and make informed choices about the social challenges they face. It therefore contributes not only to the development of knowledge, but also to the ability of children, young people, and adults to understand contemporary problems by placing them in human, social, environmental, historical, and cultural contexts that help them to live. For cultural heritage to contribute to the recovery of knowledge, researchers, teachers, and operators must be able to share a solid research background that allows them to address the various issues relating to the quality of the experiences of use carried out in school contexts, with the aim of improving the learning processes of users. In fact, the cultural and environmental resources of the territory can only be a real methodological resource for improving cognitive well-being and the overall quality of education at all levels if they are seen as useful tools for different types of learning (cognitive, social, etc.) and not as general educational tools. The paper therefore questions the use of cultural and environmental heritage in education and its adequacy with respect to learning conditions, pausing to consider also the role played by attitudes to fruition, highlighting those elements and dimensions that can contribute to redefining the relationship between education, goods, and environment, in the idea of strengthening interpretative repertoires in educational contexts.

How do you see me? The impact of perceived societal recognition on PTSD symptoms amongst Norwegian peacekeepers

ABSTRACT Background: The peacekeeper role is different to that of traditional combat, however, peacekeepers, like combat soldiers, may also be exposed to high levels of dangerous and/or potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs). Objective: It was hypothesized that given the centrality of societal approval for the peacekeeping mission, in addition to the known relevance of perceived social support, perceived societal recognition would influence PTSD symptoms (PTSS) and depression. It was hypothesized that perceived societal recognition would moderate the effect of exposure to potentially traumatic events and PMIEs on psychological outcomes. Method: 8341, predominantly male, former UNIFIL peacekeepers, almost three decades following deployment, answered a survey to determine the impact of perceived social support and perceived societal recognition, on PTSS and depression symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed for PTSS and depression separately and moderation analysis was performed for perceived societal recognition. Results: Exposure to potentially traumatic events showed the greatest predictive value for PTSS and exposure to PMIEs and potentially traumatic events were equally predictive of depression symptoms. While perceived social support presented the strongest buffer for PTSS and depression symptoms following UNIFIL deployment, perceived societal recognition also significantly contributed to the prediction of both PTSS and depression symptoms. There was a weak moderation effect of perceived societal recognition on trauma type in the development of PTSS. Conclusions: Even decades following peacekeeping deployment, military experiences have a significant impact on psychological functioning. This impact is both from the types of events experienced and from the perception of social and societal support upon return home.

How UN peacekeeping missions enforce peace agreements

AbstractHow do UN peacekeeping missions enforce peace agreements, and what effect do higher rates of enforcement have on agreement implementation and conflict termination? Peace agreement enforcement forms a central component of peacekeeping effectiveness, yet missions are often mandated to enforce a minority of agreement provisions, and they vary across both time and space in the ways in which they do so. I identify the three dimensions along which enforcement operates—the proportion and type of provisions that missions are mandated to enforce, alongside their mandated level of involvement in their implementation—and theorize about their positive effects on agreement implementation and conflict termination. Analyzing the Peacekeeping Enforcement Dataset, an original data set of the enforcement patterns of all UN peacekeeping missions (1989–2015), I find that each dimension of enforcement has, at various time points, a distinct impact on agreement implementation and preventing conflict recidivism.

An Appraisal of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Deployment

Peacekeeping operation consists of military, police and civilian personnel, who work to deliver security, political and early peacekeeping support. The deployment of a new United Nations Peacekeeping Operation is a decision taken by the Security Council. This article introduces the subject matter, gives brief history of the United Nations peacekeeping, analyses the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations and deployment, the basic principles of the United Nations peacekeeping and concludes that despite the role of the United Nations, the peacekeeping operations are still ongoing in some crisis ridden states of the World and peacekeepers are still being deployed. Keywords: United Nations, Peacekeeping, United Nations Operations, United Nations Deployment, Peacekeeping Operation, Peacekeeping Deployment.

ПАТРИОТИЧЕСКОЕ ВОСПИТАНИЕ В ШКОЛЕ

Respect for your country, its national traditions, history and rich culture is the basis of any education. Patriotic education of schoolchildren should become the unifying force that can raise a generation of true patriots who love their Motherland

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.