To: Professor Ahmad Kamal
From: Michiru
Sugi
Subject: NYU-UN-MS-A4
1.
Introduction
In terms of its peacekeeping operations, how
should the United Nations accommodate itself to the changes in its environment
and become more effective?
2.
Facts
a.
Peace
and Security: Primary
In the words of the United Nations Charter, the
Organization was founded in order "to save succeeding generations from the
scourge of war." The UN peacekeeping
operations have traditionally involved the deployment of primarily military
personnel from a number of countries, under UN command, to help control and
resolve armed conflict between hostile parties.
b.
Peacekeeping
Budget
Approved peacekeeping budget during the period of
c.
Charter
of the United Nations
i.
Against
the Use of Force or Threat of the Use of Force
Article 1 of the United Nations Charter states the purposes of the
Organization. One of them is to take “corrective measures for the prevention
and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of
aggression and other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful
means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law,
adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might
lead to a breach of the peace.”
ii.
Exceptions:
Articles 42 and 51
Articles 42 and 51 under the Chapter VII approve
of the use of force in order to maintain or restore international peace and
security.
iii.
Role
of the Security Council
Article 24 confers the Security Council primary
responsibility for peacekeeping and security, and it shall make recommendations
or decide what measures to take in order to maintain or restore international
peace and security.
d.
Peacekeeping
Operations: Past and Present
There have been
about 50 United Nations peacekeeping operations since 1948, and there are currently 15 operations in the field. As of September, 2002,
more than 1,700 military and civilian peacekeepers have died while serving in
United Nations peacekeeping operations.
e.
Changes
in Environment
i.
End
of the Cold War
During the Cold War, the UN peacekeeping enabled the
United Nations to play a constructive role in matters of global security when
the large powers saw the common interest in the termination of hostilities and
the maintenance of order. This situation changed with the end of the Cold War.
ii.
War
between States to Civil War
Peacekeeping, initially developed as a means of
dealing with inter-State conflict, has been increasingly applied to intra-State
conflicts and civil wars, which threaten international peace and security and cause massive human
suffering. Ziring notes that “[of] the
thirty-five missions authorized from 1988 through 1998, only five were sent to
deal with exclusively interstate conflict” (195).
f.
Challenges
Facing the United Nations
i.
Lack
of Political Will
In the past when Member States faced with the risk of
a catastrophe, the decision to deploy a peacekeeping mission was delayed, and
this lack of political will of Member States caused tremendous devastation in
some conflicting areas. It is said that the failure in the peacekeeping
mission in
ii.
Depressed
Budget/Financial Priorities
All Member States are obligated to pay their share
of peacekeeping costs under a formula that they themselves have agreed upon. As
of
g.
Call
for Changes in Peacekeeping Efforts
i.
“Agenda
for Peace”
In 1992, then Secretary
General Boutros Boutros-Ghali introduced “An Agenda for Peace”, which provided
analysis an recommendations on ways to strengthen and
improve the UN’s capacity to maintain world peace. “An Agenda for Peace”
defined four consecutive phases of international action to prevent or control
conflicts: (1) preventive diplomacy, (2) peacemaking, (3) peacekeeping, and (4)
peacebuilding.
ii.
The
Brahimi Report
At
the wake of some peacekeeping failures in recent years, the UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan
requested
the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations to research on the UN missions and make necessary recommendations.
The result of
the study, so-called the Brahimi Report, emphasizes
the importance of peace-building, which encompasses some development activities
to be more effective in maintaining and restoring peace and security in the
war-inflicted areas.
h.
Future
Trends
3.
Analysis/Implications
a.
Need
for More Preventive Measures – Long-term Solutions
The current UN peacekeeping missions are reactive, short-term focused, and limiting in a sense that they are conducted
to address existing, potential or emerging conflicts. Such operations may cease
wars but do not necessarily create conditions where people can live peacefully. Thus a more proactive,
preventive, and long-term solutions are needed.
b.
Synergy:
Joining Forces with the Social and Economic Development Initiatives
The
United Nations should deploy peacekeeping missions, which can resolve existing
and emerging conflicts, while building conditions for the conflicting regions
to maintain peace through its economic and social development programs.
c.
Cooperation
with Other Organizations
Due
to the depressed budget and a lack of political will, which hinder the United
Nations to effectively response to international conflicts, there is an
increasing need for the UN to cooperate other organizations, such as NATO, in
peacekeeping missions.
4.
Conclusion
As discussed above, the
United Nations peacekeeping operations face challenges. However, it is
unquestionable that the global peace and security is the common interest of
most Member States, thus the peacekeeping efforts are essential. There is a
chance of success for the United Nations if it conducts the peacekeeping
missions in conjunction with the economic and social development programs, as
well as in cooperation with other organizations that have common missions.