A Peacekeeping mission refers to the deployment of a United Nations (UN) military force in an armed conflict with the consent of the belligerents in order to monitor any treaty or cease-fire mandated by the UN Security Council. The force may be heavily armed or lightly armed depending on the nature of the intervention.
A successful peacekeeping operation requires a wide range of skills, often in close coordination with local partners. UN peacekeeping missions usually include military and police personnel, civilian staff, and advisors such as economists, human rights experts, and governance specialists. This multidimensional approach helps to avoid the pitfalls that can derail post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation, including economic dysfunction, mass displacement, and a deep sense of mistrust among former combatants.
In addition to their broader security and stabilization functions, some PKOs are tasked with addressing specific issues such as food insecurity or climate change. These specialized activities should not detract from the core of peacekeeping: achieving and sustaining peace.
While research on the effectiveness of PKOs has been mixed, one consistent finding is that a military presence reduces civilian and battlefield deaths. Moreover, a robust posture backed by the threat of deadly force increases compliance with international humanitarian law. In contrast, a more modest approach that relies on diplomacy and non-military measures may not be as effective. Achieving and sustaining peace requires changing incentives for belligerents, either by making peace more desirable or war more costly. In this context, a PKO’s ability to communicate its goals effectively is critical.