The Real Reasons Peacekeeping Fails

Abstract

Previous chapters have largely focused on the way the UN conducts peacekeeping and the limitations the organization faces as it attempts to be successful in those operations. While those internal factors affect how well the peacekeepers do their job, this chapter will argue that the most significant obstacles to success are the external factors that are beyond the scope of the peacekeeping mission. They can be influenced by the UN, if it has political will and the support of the member states, but are beyond the UN’s control. The three most important of these external factors are the conduct of the parties to the conflict, the attitude and interests of other countries and the resources of the country where the conflict has taken place. To look at these external factors systematically requires considering separately each kind of peacekeeping that have come about in response to wars between states over territory (classical peacekeeping), civil wars (multidimensional peacekeeping), and violent extremism (protection and stabilization missions).