Peacekeeping Research Articles

Unifying optimization forces: Harnessing the fine-structure constant in an electromagnetic-gravity optimization framework

Abstract The electromagnetic-gravity optimization (EMGO) framework is a novel optimization technique that integrates the fine-structure constant and leverages electromagnetism and gravity principles to achieve efficient and robust optimization solutions. Through comprehensive performance evaluation and comparative analyses against state-of-the-art optimization techniques, EMGO demonstrates superior convergence speed and solution quality. Its unique balance between exploration and exploitation, enabled by the interplay of electromagnetic and gravity forces, makes it a powerful tool for finding optimal or near-optimal solutions in complex problem landscapes. The research contributes by introducing EMGO as a promising optimization approach with diverse applications in engineering, decision support systems, machine learning, data mining, and financial optimization. EMGO’s potential to revolutionize optimization methodologies, handle real-world problems effectively, and balance global exploration and local exploitation establishes its significance. Future research opportunities include exploring adaptive mechanisms, hybrid approaches, handling high-dimensional problems, and integrating machine learning techniques to enhance its capabilities further. EMGO gives a novel approach to optimization, and its efficacy, advantages, and potential for extensive adoption open new paths for advancing optimization in many scientific, engineering, and real-world domains.

А.С. Пушкин forever. Долгий бессмертный Пушкинский день продолжается… К 225-летию со дня рождения А.С. Пушкина

This article delves into various aspects of the philosophical and literary discourse surrounding the creative activities of A.S. Pushkin. The plot of the article includes several independent sections that make up the system of the author’s representation of the phenomenon of A.S. Pushkin. The palette of meanings presented in the article includes, in particular, an exploration of philosophical Pushkin studies as an autonomous area of academic reflection. Emphasis is placed on the “domestic” and “romantic” aspects of the great poet’s life as subjects of philosophical interpretation. Moreover, the article delineates both classical and modern trends in the interpretation of A.S. Pushkin’s life and work by professional historians, literary critics, and advocates of the poet’s legacy. It concludes that Pushkin serves as a unifying force for multiple epochs of Russian culture: the imperial, revolutionary, and Soviet periods. At the same time, the space of Pushkin’s Russia is not confined to a single nation-state; it encompasses the Russian abroad as well.

Between State Duty and Peace Mission: The Other Side & Experience of Indonesia Peacekeeping Force in the Middle East

Further research has been conducted on the role of the Indonesian National Army and the Indonesian laskar after the declaration of independence on 17 August 1945 and during the revolutionary period from 1945 to 1949. However, after decolonization in the 1950s, military history including the lives of its members and their personal lives received less space in the narrative of military history. Peace veteran is a title given specifically to young Indonesians who had participated as special forces under the auspices of the United Nations. These young men did not only come from the TNI but also from student regiments who had the opportunity to join this special peacekeeping force. The main focus of this article revolves around their efforts to guard the border between Egypt and ‘Israel’ during the war in the Middle East. This article will use oral sources and personal documents from various Indonesian peacekeeping forces who served during this period. The results of the study show that although they were faced with uncertain situations, far from their families, and preparing to face the enemy, there was another side to their experiences, namely, meeting colleagues from other countries, language gaps, and other “normal” activities that they were still able to carry out while on duty.

Assessing Islamic Moral Values Among Muslim Youth in Nigeria

Any society’s stability hinges upon its members’ collective adherence to moral principles and practices. Morality, universally relevant, acts as a unifying force that transcends religious, racial, and regional boundaries. This study examines the moral values of Muslim youth in Nigeria, highlighting the rising deviation from Islamic principles towards Western culture and immorality. Through a qualitative research strategy, data was collected by conducting interviews with selected youths across Nigeria and experts in Islamic moral teachings. Thematic analysis is applied to discern crucial patterns in the study. The study reveals that forsaking Islamic moral values and adopting Western culture results in moral decadence, which contributes to rising crime rates, including sexual assaults, substance abuse, highway robbery, educational setbacks, and mental health disorders. The root causes of the deterioration include the lack of individual morality, societal moral ethics, and ignorance of Islamic moral values. The study recommends integrating Islamic moral teachings from the Qur’an and Sunnah alongside encouraging positive cultural and moral behaviours to mitigate these challenges. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among youth regarding the detrimental effects of Western and non-Islamic culture. Tackling the shortcomings in personal and societal morality, addressing moral ignorance, and engaging parents, schools, and the community are suggested as essential measures to mitigate the impact of moral decline.

Exercising Cultural Diplomacy as a Form of Smart Power in the Military Operating Environment

Abstract Cultural diplomacy also manifests itself in the military context, where military activity and behavior in the strategic space approaches actions in the diplomatic domain. This article provides an overview of the current debates in this evolving field, exploring different diplomatic perspectives in the military’s management of international relations in different military missions. Based on the most recent literature on cultural diplomacy in the military operational environment, in order to understand how the military interacts with the local population in a society where it conducts peacekeeping or peace-enforcement operations, it is useful to analyze the strategies employed and to assess the consistency of these activities with the classic definitions of public diplomacy. In order to achieve the proposed objectives, a careful analysis of the definition of the concept of diplomacy is carried out through the understanding of its two forms: cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy. In order to minimize risks and increase the efficiency of operations, the idea of integrating cultural diplomacy as a smart power in the military operational environment is developed.

Many hurdles to take: Explaining peacekeepers’ ability to engage in human rights activities

Human rights are a fundamental principle and purpose of the United Nations (UN). Yet, UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) exhibit substantial variation in their ability to engage in human rights activities. While existing research has investigated deployment and mandates, we explain what peacekeepers can actually do on the ground. We argue that the UN Security Council’s permanent member states (the P5) limit human rights mandates if they have private interests in PKO host countries, thereby diminishing peacekeepers’ ability to promote and protect human rights. Moreover, armed conflict shifts priorities away from human rights activities. We use novel data on 21 human rights activities in African countries (1991–2016) and item response models to capture PKOs’ latent ability to engage in these activities. Random and fixed effects regression and mediation analyses with sensitivity tests support our expectations. We find that the P5’s economic interests in the PKO host country negatively correlate with the strength of human rights mandate provisions, which in turn negatively correlates with PKOs’ ability to engage in human rights activities. We find similar, although less consistent, correlations for P5’s security interests. Yet, while mandates partly define the scope of PKOs’ activities, field-level conditions also have an influence. Specifically, ongoing armed conflict negatively correlates with PKOs’ ability to engage in human rights activities. Our results suggest that rising challenges to the liberal international order by powerful states, coupled with the more frequent deployment of PKOs in conflict zones, will likely increase the hurdles that UN PKOs need to overcome to meet expectations regarding their human rights engagement.

In Search of Democratic Conversations in the High School Curriculum

The absence of civil conversations in the wider public and the rise of a polarized citizenry point to the need for the school to recognize its role as an amalgamating and unifying force in society. At the secondary school level, this means that educators will need to look more closely for ways to address issues related to democratic life and to encourage classroom conversations aimed at producing shared and common understandings. Most of this work will reside in the hands of the social studies educator. This essay examines why conversations are critical for the education of the upcoming generation and suggests that some general education reforms be considered in the social studies curriculum.

Road to Malawi Defence Force International Peacekeeping and Other Expeditionary Deployments: Multiple Players with Multiple Interests

Misconceptions about the powers and procedures to deploy the military have lingered in the public domain owing to the secretive nature of military operations albeit in many countries such procedures and powers are enshrined in the Constitution; a public document of the basic principles and laws of a nation or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and that guarantee certain rights to the people in it. Such misconceptions have not left out Malawi in her deployment of the Malawi Defence Forces. This paper seeks to explain the sources of power for the Malawi Defence Force deployments for international peacekeeping operations. The paper endeavours to enlighten many who posit that the Malawi Defence Force deployments do not go through democratic processes. Doctrinal analysis research methodology was employed to deep dive into documents such as the Constitution, the United Nations, the African Union, Southern Africa Development Community Charters and the Malawi Defence Force Act. The three-level analyses at macro, meso and macro domains and stakeholder holders’ analysis were considered. The three-level and stakeholder analyses were reinforced by the type of government that informs procedures and powers of the government in handling national instruments of power. The findings revealed that the powers to deploy the Malawi Defence Force for peacekeeping operations are drawn from the international and national instruments with the executive branch playing a crucial role in such deployments. The study recommends the operationalization of the National Security Policy and a review of the current deployment process flow to chart a hybrid process fusing the presidential and parliamentary processes as well as blending the objective and subjective civilian control of the defence forces.

The monusco Force Intervention Brigade at 10 and the Quest for Fair UN Peacekeeping Involvement in Non-International Armed Conflicts

Abstract This article aims at assessing the fairness of peacekeeping involvement in non-international armed conflicts in light of ten years of practice of the monusco Force Intervention Brigade (2013–2023). The article posits that respect for the three principles of peacekeeping, namely non-use of armed force except for self-defence, neutrality/impartiality, and consent of the belligerents, can be used to measure the fairness of a peacekeeping mission. Reference to procedural fairness as legitimacy, following the work of Thomas Franck, is employed here. The article describes the mandate of the monusco Force Intervention Brigade in light of ten years of the UN Security Council’s resolutions and practice in the field to conclude that the mission does not comply with the principles of peacekeeping and, thus, it cannot be seen as a fair UN involvement in a non-international armed conflict.

Peningkatan Peran Serta Tokoh Agama Dalam Pembangunan Berbagai Sektor Kehidupan Di Desa

So far, the role of religious figures in the environment has always been anchored in religious roles that are limited to bringing moral messages as well as peace missions in the event of horizontal conflict. It is very rare for religious figures to play an active role in the material development of the village, let alone being actively involved in the village government structure. Until now, the role of these religious figures as part of the village elite has not been explored optimally to boost the pace of the village development process. This community service program aims to increase the role of religious figures in Gayaman village not only limited to religious roles alone, but also have a significant role in material development that involves decision-making at the village structural level. Along with the issuance of Law No. 3 of 2024 junto Law No. 6 of 2016 concerning Villages concerning villages which emphasize the mandatory participation of village communities, the role of these elites becomes very significant, because it is through them that the encouragement for the community to participate in village development is strengthened. This community service program is implemented using the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method which involves participation, in this case, religious figures in Gayaman village to take active action for the purpose of social transformation. From this service, it is obtained that the role of these religious figures (as part of the village elite) focuses more on their influence in moral development and only in a small portion they play a role in physical material development policies. It is recommended that the government, both central and regional, can establish stricter regulations in positioning the role of religious figures in the village precisely for the sake of the smooth development itself.

Experiential Learning and Peacekeeping

ABSTRACT Experiential learning, at its core, is a self-driven process of acquiring knowledge from past experiences and applying it to new situations. This study delves into this process within the realm of peacekeeping, where the learning experiences of troop-contributing countries are particularly unique. These peacekeepers navigate the dual role of countering armed insurgencies through UN peacekeeping missions abroad while simultaneously addressing domestic security challenges through counterinsurgency (COIN) operations. Although extensive research has examined how COIN experiences shape peacekeeping strategies, the translation of peacekeeping experiential learning to domestic contexts remains to be determined. By focusing on India as a case study, this research illustrates that peacekeepers are open to learning from their peacekeeping experiences. However, the successful application of this learning in domestic settings is determined by more than just their capacity to learn. It is also shaped by the nature of the supportive learning environment that may sometimes create a gap between international peacekeeping and its application to domestic operations.

The role of Nigeria in the regional integration process in west Africa (1975 - 2023): Case study of Ecowas

This paper examines Nigeria's role in the regional integration process in West Africa through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 1975 to 2023. Nigeria's significant economic, political, and military influence in the region has positioned it as a key player in ECOWAS. This study explores Nigeria's contributions, challenges, and the impact of its policies on regional integration. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical and contemporary data, this paper provides insights into Nigeria's leadership and its implications for regional stability and development. The findings from the study revealed Nigeria's pivotal role in the regional integration process in West Africa through ECOWAS. Nigeria's economic strength, political leadership, and security contributions have been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of ECOWAS. The country's efforts in promoting economic integration, mediating conflicts, and supporting peacekeeping missions have significantly contributed to regional stability and development. However, the analysis also highlights several challenges that have impacted Nigeria's role. Economic vulnerabilities, domestic political instability, and regional rivalries have occasionally hindered Nigeria's ability to lead effectively. Addressing these challenges is crucial for Nigeria to sustain its leadership role and for ECOWAS to achieve its integration objectives.

UN Peacekeeping Operations as a Tool for Securing Peace

The UN, Peace and Force. Editor Michael Pugit. Frank Cass mul Co., Ltd, London 1997,209 stran, ISBN O 7146 4759 4.

The party in the flats: Relationships between housing movements and the political party form in the 1970s Irish rent strikes

The complex relationships between housing movements and the political party form have not been theorised or explored in depth. This article investigates the potential role of political parties in both politicising housing struggles as well as in undermining the autonomy and militancy of grassroots housing action. It draws on theories of the relationship between political parties and mass movements using the concept of the ‘party as articulator’, which identifies the party’s key functions as unifying social forces, politicising mass movements and providing continuity and stability over time. These perspectives are applied to the mass rent strikes which took place in Ireland in the early 1970s. We highlight the failure of any single party to fully carry out the role of articulator which arises from the fact that none possessed both organic roots in the tenants’ movement while simultaneously articulating radical demands and politicising the rent strikes. The article also investigates the tension between grassroots housing movements and parties oriented towards electoral politics. It demonstrates that, in the case study, the weakness of the institutional left in Ireland meant that it was not possible to fully co-opt and demobilise the rent strikes by redirecting them towards electoralism. The article’s overall contribution is the development of a framework to understand the specific activities through which political parties might contribute to generalising and politicising housing movements.

Top Boy Crossdressing: The Life of Heliogabalus in the Historia Augusta

Focusing on the Life of Heliogabalus in the so-called Historia Augusta or Imperial History, an anonymous late fourth century CE work, the chapter argues that beautiful rulers who cross dressed with abandon were part of late Roman imperial masculinity and its representation. This was so because the Christian emperor Theodosius was very aware of same-gender or homoerotic attraction as unifying force, which he also employed to strengthen the rule of his sons, made full co-rulers as children. However, as the highly satirical Life of Heliogabalus makes clear, gorgeous, soft young emperors had to maintain and make visible specific power relations. If they could not demonstrate that they controlled their generals rather than the other way round, the power of homoerotic attraction could backfire.

Non-State Actors in Asymmetric Conflicts: What does It Mean and What Follows of It

The article examines the problem of the participation of non-state actors in armed conflicts in the post-war period. The study is based on the theory of asymmetric conflict, which offers hypotheses about the reasons for the paradoxical defeat of developed countries against relatively weak opponents, including non-state actors. The empirical basis of the study is armed conflict databases, which allow us to test sole observations and hypotheses about the characteristics of asymmetric armed conflicts. The study uses the databases of the Uppsala Conflict Data Program Project (Sweden) and the COSIMO Project (University of Heidelberg, Germany) as well as publications of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The study shows that the phenomenon of asymmetric conflicts reflects several important patterns of armed conflicts in the post-war period: the predominance of intrastate over interstate conflicts; the internationalisation of armed conflicts through the involvement of other countries, international organisations or non-state actors; the direct or indirect involvement of great powers in such conflicts; and the majority of armed conflicts occurring in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Post-war armed conflicts are often referred to as “proxy wars” because the direct participants in the conflict are supported by external actors – states or non-state actors. The issues in conflicts between states and non-state actors are often political in nature, and the fundamental distinction between domestic and foreign policy has been overcome. The post-war period shows a gradual change of attitude towards the participation of non-state actors in armed conflicts, which reflects the recognition of their legitimacy as participants in the conflict, the negotiation and conclusion of agreements on the cessation of hostilities. Non-state actors in armed conflicts are themselves legitimised as representing the interests of particular groups and the goals of their struggle. UN peacekeeping operations since the end of the Cold War confirm these changes. Research on the participation of non-state actors in armed conflict reveals a broadening of the agenda and methodology for the study of post-war armed conflict, reflecting significant changes in the practice of international relations. These changes concern who is recognised as a legitimate actor in international relations, what role non-state actors play in armed conflict, and how non-state actors are viewed by other actors in international relations – states, international governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Troops Preparation Policy On A World Peace Mission

Indonesia’s involvement in peacekeeping missions has long been a key part of its foreign policy, contributing to world peace as outlined in Republic of Indonesia Law Number 37 of 1999 concerning Foreign Relations. This study aims to analyze the government's policy implementation regarding troop preparation for world peace missions, particularly in relation to Indonesia's role as a Troops Contributing Country (TCC) to the United Nations (UN). The research utilizes a qualitative descriptive approach to understand the intricacies of the troop preparation process through George Edward III's policy implementation model, which emphasizes the importance of disposition, communication, resources, and bureaucracy. Data were collected through document analysis, interviews, and observation of relevant practices in Indonesian military operations. The findings highlight that the personnel selection process for peacekeeping missions is highly structured, requiring compliance with rigorous standards set by both the Indonesian government and the UN. The pre-deployment training, supervised by the TNI (Indonesian National Army) Headquarters, ensures that selected personnel are adequately prepared for their assignments. This comprehensive preparation includes mental and physical readiness, as well as the necessary technical and language skills. The results also emphasize the importance of strong inter-agency coordination, particularly between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure the success of these missions. Furthermore, the study reveals that budgetary and resource constraints remain significant challenges in sustaining peacekeeping operations. In conclusion, Indonesia's contribution to global peacekeeping missions underscores the nation's commitment

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.

Democratization and Peace after Civil War—What Difference Can International Engagement Make? Insights from Liberia

Abstract What role can international engagement play for the relationship between post-conflict democratization and conflict recurrence? Empirical evidence indicates that democratization risks triggering violence. Consequently, some scholars criticize the liberal peacebuilding approach, which centers on the promotion of democracy and competitive elections with the aim of fostering peace after civil wars. This article (1) illustrates the risks and potential of post-conflict democratization and (2) traces the effect of international support in this context. It builds on the existing literature yet goes beyond the concentration on peacekeeping forces and places particular attention on democracy promotion. The analysis draws on rich empirical data from Liberia, which is an ideal case to explore this relationship. Twice, democratic elections followed in the wake of a devastating civil war in Liberia. The first post-war elections in 1997 are often cited as an example of how externally induced democratization triggers renewed violence. The democratization process following the end of the second civil war in 2003, in contrast, is regarded as having strengthened peace. The analysis shows that international (democracy) support constitutes a key explanatory factor in the Liberian case by reducing and even substituting for the weakness and lack of credibility of local democratic institutions and procedures.

Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers of a Field Hospital in UN Peacekeeping Mission

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected the healthcare system worldwide as well as the psychological state of all. The objective of the current study was to assess the psychological conditions of the healthcare workers in Enhanced Level 1+ Hospital, Bouar, Central African Republic (CAR). This assessment can help in the guideline development and implication psychological interventions which in turn can improve the quality of life, working environment and decision-making capabilities of health care workers during widespread pandemic. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 medical personnel working in Enhanced Level 1+ Hospital, Bouar, Central African Republic. The study was performed from June 2022 to August 2022. Assessment of psychological status of military healthcare providers was done by analyzing the results derived from the Mental health survey, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Hospital records were analyzed to assess the changes in workload. Results: The working hour increased significantly from Pre Covid to Post Covid period (1920±34.1 hours/week to 2120±67.3 hours/week) although the number of weekly patients in OPD and Emergency decreased slightly from 51.9 to 40.6. Elevated mental stress was observed during outbreak (average PSS-10 score in June 22 was 20.4 which reduced to 9.7 in August). The same pattern was observed in case of GAD-7 score (15.6 to 10.8) and PHQ-9 score (12.4 to 6.1). The percentage of concerns regarding Covid19 was high during the outbreak, 37/40 (92.5%), which decreased after wards to 18/40 (45%). Conclusion: The UN field hospitals are inadequate to support mass outbreak like COVID 19 in the context of both staff and medical supplies. During Covid 19 outbreak, sharp rise of workload and difficulties in restocking of essential medical items played a vital role in the mental state of the medical professionals. The field hospitals in UN peacekeeping missions require intensive effort especially on disaster and epidemic management during pre-deployment training. Moreover, reconsidering distribution of human resources in field hospitals is also required. Bangladesh Armed Forces Med J Vol 57 No (1) June 2024, pp 35-42