If There's a Will, There's a Way: The Importance of Political Will and Robust Use of Force in Weak and Fragile States (Future Trends in Peace Operations)
Tra, Julie M.
2021
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Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Peacekeeping operations has been the international community’s go-to solution for conflict management regarding interstate and intrastate issues, usually located in regions where instability thrives like the Middle East or the Global South. It is the bread and ... read morebutter of the United Nations, as peace operations are the closest thing the world has to an international standing military force. Although peace operations are not a uniquely United Nations concept, the international organization has the primary hold on the business of peace operations. This paper takes a detailed analysis on the role the United Nations play in peace operations and the implications it takes on from deploying a variety of peace operations, specifically those with robust mandates such as the Protection of Civilian (PoC) mandate and use of force outside self-defense in the midst of ongoing conflicts.After going through the concept of a UN peace operation and its impact over the decades, the paper will take a look at the Republic of Mali as a case study in how robust peacekeeping measures and a more proactive political process support mechanism can offer the struggling country a pathway to sustaining peace for the nation. In just a little under a decade, Mali has experienced severe political unrest and in turn, violent uprising from armed groups all across the country. A unique problem for the UN, in which peace is constantly contested by spoilers and political unwillingness from all parties. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), deployed in 2013 following a military coup d’état, currently faces conflicting mandates to protect civilians at all cost, however, also taking on calls to engage against violent armed groups while continuing its mandate to support the country’s political process. This paper will conclude with its recommendations for MINUSMA, the United Nations, the Malian government, and other important actors in going forward with state-building.read less - ID:
- v692tm60s
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