Evidence, gathered in 16 peer-reviewed studies, shows that peacekeepers – or ‘green helmets’ nicknames – significantly reduce civilian casualties, shorten conflicts and help implement peace agreements.
In fact, the majority of UN peacekeeping mission succeeded in their primary goal, which was ultimately social stability and an end to war.
“If we look at the records systematically – then most of the time peacekeepers are active.” That is the view of Professor Lise Howard of Georgetown University, in Washington DC Her recent book Power in peacekeeping based on extensive field research on various UN peacekeeping missions.
Remarkable success
Professor Howard said in an interview with UN Video: “If we look at the missions completed since the end of the Cold War, two-thirds of the time peacekeepers have succeeded. in performing their duties and leaving.
“That is not to say that in all those cases, everything is perfect in the countries. But that means they are no longer at war.”
“Peacekeepers reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of civil war,” she continued. “They also help reach peace agreements. Where there is the promise of peacekeepers, we are more likely to see a peace deal and peace agreements stick together.”
Millions of lives saved
Above all, UN peacekeepers save lives: Professor Howard says millions of lives have been saved since the establishment of the peacekeeping force in 1948.
The concept of using troops, not for war, but to help keep the peace, was born during negotiations in the Middle East in 1948, when the newly established state of Israel was in conflict with its neighbours.
One of the main innovators of the peacekeeping force was Dr. Ralph Bunche, an American diplomat who served as a senior United Nations official.
“This idea is an innovation in human history – that the military will deploy impartially, so they will not take sides. They will deploy with the consent of the belligerents, so the real belligerents will ask the peacekeepers to help them make peace agreements.”
For helping negotiate an armistice between Egypt and Israel in 1948, Dr. Bunche was awarded the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize.
Case Study: Namibia
One of Professor Howard’s case studies is Namibia. In 1989, a United Nations peacekeeping mission helped end the civil war and supported the first free and fair elections in the country’s history. That is not an easy task.
Professor Howard said: “Namibia is a country that has been through a lot of difficulties. “It had many colonial rulers. It had a genocide. It was the victim of a regional war, of a civil war. But surprisingly Namibia did not fall victim to this extremely difficult history.”
Today, Namibia is a stable, high-middle-income country, with a working democratic system – an extraordinary achievement, given that historical context.
The UN mission in Namibia was innovative at the time. 40 percent of its employees are women. And Professor Howard argues that the UN peacekeeping force is most effective when it does not simply rely on force.
Persuasion
“The main form of power they use is persuasion. The peacekeepers were there to help reform the political system. No one has ever voted in an election before. The peacekeepers are helping to inform citizens about their rights and what it means to elect their own leaders.”
In complex missions during civil wars, peacekeepers not only monitor ceasefire lines, they also help rebuild the basic institutions of the State.
They help demobilize the army. They help reform judicial and economic systems, so that when disputes arise, people no longer have to resort to violence to resolve them.
Another important mission is to protect the lives of civilians. During the civil war in South Sudan, United Nations peacekeepers opened their quarters to hundreds of thousands of people, providing refuge amid intense violence.
Sexual abuse
There have been times when UN peacekeepers have caused enormous damage to civilians – the opposite of protecting them. A small minority have sexually exploited and abused vulnerable citizens.
The UN has taken measures to prevent peacekeepers from committing acts of sexual violence. Entire battalions have been sent home and mechanisms in place to ensure that victims feel safe reporting peacekeepers’ sexual abuse and exploitation.
The UN has also raised more than $4 million to support victims of sexual abuse and exploitation in the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti and Liberia. Commission fund help Member States assist victims and children born of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Case Study: Lebanon
The United Nations mission in Lebanon is another example of successful peacekeeping using means other than military force. The mission, called UNIFIL, located in a volatile area, near the border between Israel and Lebanon. On one side is the Israel Defense Forces. On the other hand, Hezbollah and other armed actors.
One of UNIFILIts main mission is to help keep the peace and relieve tension between the Israel Defense Forces and the Lebanese Army. However, Professor Howard says, the main form of power that peacekeepers use today is instigation.
“United Nations peacekeepers help keep the peace, not because anyone is afraid of them, but they see the benefit of having UN peacekeepers encourage people to come forward. peace.”
Professor Howard has personally observed peacekeepers in Lebanon during his fieldwork.
foot patrol
“In southern Lebanon, we often see peacekeepers on patrol. They walk around the local communities. They visit the markets. They talk to people. They will talk to the imam. They will talk to other local leaders. They will set up a medical clinic or provide dental services. They also provide a lot of jobs in southern Lebanon.”
In other words, the UN peacekeeping force provides a conduit for negotiations and de-escalation. They get to know the local community and they also provide services. They demonstrate the advantages of peace and stability.
Transitioning from war to peace
Professor Howard argues that UN peacekeeping is most successful using persuasion and instigation, rather than direct military force. But regardless of the theory behind the success, data from extensive, systematic studies show that UN peacekeeping missions are effective most of the time.
“If we look at the cases systematically, peacekeepers are helping people, in their daily lives, move from situations of war and violent conflict to situations of war and violence. a more peaceful situation.”
