What Makes Peacekeeping Work? Books Roundtable on UN Peace Operations

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Session Description

Does the deployment size of peacekeepers matter for their effectiveness? How does diversity of mission composition in peace operations affect conflict dynamics? Two recently published books have focused on these two different questions. “Peacekeeping in the Midst of War" by Lisa Hultman, Jacob Kathman and Megan Shannon systematically shows that the capacity of a peace operation - deployment size - and its constitution - type of personnel - are crucial factors to shape conflict dynamics between combatants and saving civilians lives. By contrast, "Composing Peace" by Vincenzo Bove, Chiara Ruffa and Andrea Ruggeri studies the effects of diversity of mission composition on the ability to protect civilians and stop belligerents. They focus in particular on the conditions under which diversity among Blue Helmets, within mission leadership and with the local population makes UN peacekeeping missions more effective. The books' authors will discuss key findings of these two books together with leading scholars in the field and outline potential avenues to make peace operations more effective.

Sub Unit

• Division 21: Conflict Processes

Chair

• Andrea Ruggeri University of Oxford

Presenters

• Lisa Hultman Uppsala University

• Lise Morje Howard Georgetown University

• Kyle Beardsley Duke University

• Susanna Campbell American University