United Nations Peacekeeping In The Post-Cold War Era

This study examines whether peacekeeping fundamentally changed between the Cold War and Post-Cold War periods focusing on contrasting case studies of the Congo, Cyprus, Somalia and Angola, as well as more recent operations in Sierra Leone and East Timor. The authors conclude that most peacekeeping operations-whether in the Cold War or Post-Cold War periods-were flawed due to the failure of the UN member states to agree upon achievable objectives, the precise nature of the operations and provision of the necessary resources, and unrealistic post-1989 expectations that UN peacekeeping operations could be adapted to the changed international circumstances. The study concludes by looking at the Brahimi reforms, questions whether these are realistically achievable and looks at their impact on contemporary peace operations in Sierra Leone, East Timor and elsewhere.

John Terence O'Neill is a former Colonel in the Irish Defence Forces, and is a research associate, Department of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin.