ABSTRACT
In the years since the conclusion of the Cold War, there has been considerable United Nations activity in this area. However, it is important to be clear on terminology; in his document, An Agenda for Peace,164 the Secretary General, Dr Boutros Ghali, attempted to set out some working definitions. First, he drew attention to the role of preventive diplomacy which might involve fact finding and good offices. Secondly, he identified ‘peacemaking’ which might be action taken under Chapter VI of the Charter. Thirdly, he defined peacekeeping as the deployment of United Nations personnel in an area with the consent of the parties. In contrast he went on to identify ‘peace enforcement’,165 which involves peacekeeping undertaken without the consent of the parties and is normally authorised under the terms the provisions of Chapter VII. It has to be recognised that the basic distinction between ‘peacekeeping’ (with consent) and ‘enforcement action’ has become less clear with the emergence of forms of ‘mixed keeping’ which may involve elements of each. Secondly, the deployment of forces may be undertaken on a limited basis but circumstances may dictate a modification of the mandate once the force has arrived in theatre.166
