Intro + peacekeeping Flashcards
Introduction to the UN
The UN emerged as an answer to the failures the League of Nations.
193 members make up with 5 permanent members of security council. However, the UN evolved from being an efficiently run security system to an inter-state organisation with a broad range of tasks.
Maintain international peace and security
Promoting human rights
Fostering economic and social development
Protecting the environment
Providing humanitarian aid.
Is the UN a collective security arrangement?
YES
NO
the Strategy
YES
By signing UN Charter, states agree not to engage in aggression, and use military force for defensive purposes. Relies on cooperation and assistance of every member states as well as the impartiality of the central enforcement body. Ultimately state sovereignty is central to this debate.
NO
UN structure still privileges great powers (P5) à modified collective arrangement
Instances of unchecked aggression, or lack of a mandate, where members did not step in and prevent a conflict.
Often Russian resistance to the security council and lack of agreement among P5
Does this support the realist view that states continue to support their own interests and survival?
Or support the liberal claim that international institutions need more power and authority.
The UN strategy
Obliges states to settle disputes in a peaceful manner
Organ created with authority to make judgements and the degree of possible violations and the consequences.
Clear provisions states for the measures of enforcements.
Realist theory on collective security
Theory on collective security
The theory of collective security in some respects fails to provide a conclusive solution to the problem of why states should overcome their mutual mistrust. But it enhances the realist perspective that some states intend to behave aggressively, and this reinforces the realist idea of lingering inter-state insecurity and the permanent security dilemma.
Realists argue that great powers will decide on a case by case basis according to its own interests and whether and how a victim of an aggressor is to be assisted and decisions within a democracy are the consent of parliamentary bodies therefore the concept of collective security proves to be unrealistic.
Security challenges
States are caught in a constant security dilemma where they tend to focus not on the absolute gains of mutual cooperation but their gains relative to others. Can make security cooperation a zero-sum game as it is not possible for all states to gain in relative terms. (cold war era)
The security dilemma is the danger that can be caused through the threat or use of force.
Therefore, the fundamental security challenge is to stabilise states expectations about non-violent behaviour and make them refrain from using force.
theory on cooperation
Theory – on attempts at cooperation.
There have been attempts to form mechanisms to establish cooperation.
Benefits of cooperation can be large and outweigh the dangerous risks that war poses.
Constructivists & institutionalist organisations can help to overcome the security dilemma
- norms for diplomacy
- transparency across members states which can foster a degree of trust.
Peacekeeping
intro
what can they do
Firstly, all peaceful means to resolve a conflict must be exhausted
- Requires the consent of all parties involved.
- The UNSC will determine what needs to be done to resolve the conflict.
All member states shall be committed to supporting them idea of collective security.
International personnel are employed to control and resolve conflicts
Traditional vs Multidimensional Functions
Traditional – monitoring ceasefire agreements, helping to generate a level of trust.
Multidimensional – ceasefire wasn’t enough and instead must be concerned with continued political mediation, providing rule of law, humanitarian assistance, human rights and ensuring good governance.
effectiveness of peacekeeping
Effective?
peace lasts longer when international personnel are deployed than when states are left to their own devices.
Peacekeepers enhance the costs of aggression and make surprise attacks harder to carry out, sought to reassure belligerents about each other’s intentions through continuous monitoring.
Minimise the risk of accidents or skirmishes from escalating into full-scale fighting
Persistent accusations of rape and sexual exploitation – further undermining the confidence in the organisation.
o French and African troops sexually abused children in the CAR in 2013-14 at a camp for displaced civilians.
o Criticised heavily by the failure to response quickly against the claims made by a UN rights investigation.
- Cholera in Haiti – infecting near 1 million and causing 8,500 deaths.
Unsuccessful peacekeeping missions
UN Peacekeeping in DRC 2019 – mass protests throughout country – UN not doing enough to protect civilians against rebel attacks. Evidence of disorganised army and contending with Ebola outbreak. UN peacekeeping has been going on for 20 years.
Case Study – Rwanda Genocide
Hutu population massacred many Tutsi
Nearly ½ million Rwandese were in exile and this became central of the region’s stability.
Troops lacked essentials – forced to borrow cash from other UN subsidiary bodies, not enough ammunition, sandbags, fuel, barbed wires or helicopters.
The UN ignored warnings that the genocide was being planned and reduced peacekeepers.
2000 at the school were murdered. Feeling of betrayal of as UN provided an“illusion of security”.
Lessons have been learned with the protection of civilian lives now a priority.
There is friction between the UN and some governments over who has the ultimate control over peacekeeping troops.
The number of missions has multiplied – increase in special political missions known as preventative diplomacy.
800,000 people killed, but UNSC reluctant to label as ‘genocide’ As they would have to intervene
Biggest failure of the UN in terms of human toll which this took.
successful peacekeeping missions
Successes – Côte D’Ivoire 2004 – outbreak of civil war and lack of state authority lead to 3000 killed and 300,000 became refugees.
- By 2011, over 11,000 peacekeepers were deployed.
- Disarmed 70,000 combatants and re-integrated them into society
- Social cohesion – 1000 quick impact projects – reduced intercommunal conflicts by 80%
- One of the fastest growing African economy at 9%
- Strengthened security forces.
Successes – Liberia civil wars 1989-1996 & 1999-2006– civil wars left 200,000 people dead and 500,000 internally displaced.
Managed to disarm and demobilised over 100,000 combatants.
A public opinion survey conducted that 94% of Liberians said the UNMIL helped to improve security and 88% said it improved human right conditions in the country.
Successes – East Timor – 100,000 died in Indonesia occupied.
Helped to implement an independence referendum where 78% voted for independence. After referendum, a transitional administration was set up, conducting the first presidential election. A public opinion survey found that East Timorese preferred peacekeepers over the international stabilisation force.
