ABSTRACT
Peacekeeping as a construct has evolved with the configurations of international politics. For example, although peacekeeping was mentioned numerous times in the United States national security strategies of previous Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, peacekeeping was not mentioned once in Donald Trump’s strategy issued at the end of 2017. This chapter provides a brief overview over the evolution of international peacekeeping since World War II, with specific focus on the way in which peacekeeping is understood, the role of peacekeeping in international politics, exploring challenges regarding ethics, resources, and questions of might and right. The operational spectrum of peace missions is illustrated using two case studies: (1) the former Yugoslavia which includes four separate UN operations and (2) the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its predecessor there. The chapter explores ongoing peacekeeping challenges, including debates surrounding the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the rising demand for peacekeepers even as its costs surge. The authors argue that the increased number of regional, non-UN peacekeeping missions is one way of addressing this challenge, although it comes at a cost.
