Why peacekeeping fails - a comparative assessment of Angola and Mozambique
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Date
2014-03-24
Authors
Jett, Dennis C
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Abstract
This thesis examines why some peacekeeping operations
(PKOs) fail, principally by comparing the unsuccessful
attempt at peacekeeping in Angola to the successful
effort in Mozambique. It tests the hypothesis that,
while the factors that have led to failures in the past
can be identified and the elements of success predicted,
the likelihood of increasing the probability of success
is made difficult by the way PKOs are initiated and
conducted, by the nature of the UN as an organization and
by other factors the UN can influence, but not control.
In examining the above hypothesis, a brief review of the
history of peacekeeping is provided. The evolution in
the number, size, scope and cost of such operations is
described, as well as why peacekeeping has become more
necessary, more possible and more desired. The thesis
explains why PKOs have become increasingly complex and,
as a result, their chances for success have diminished.
It also shows how this has led to peacekeeping falling
into relative disuse,
The thesis looks at a wide range of PKOs and analyzes two
of them in depth PKOs - UNAVEM II in Angola and ONUMOZ in
Mozambique - during the three phases which every PKO goes
through: the period leading up to dispatching the
peacekeepers, during their deployment, and after they
have departed. While Angola and Mozambique have similar
histories, it is commonly believed that the outcome of
their respective PKOs could hardly have been more
different. The thesis considers whether the contrast
between the two outcomes may not be as stark as this
conventional wisdom suggests.
Finally, the thesis attempts to draw conclusions about
ways in which future PKOs could be conducted in order
to improve the chances for success. It also considers
why these changes are easier to enumerate than to adopt
and implement.
Research for the thesis was conducted through semistructured
interviews of policy makers, analysts and
participants selected because of their knowledge of
peacekeeping operations. The extensive academic
literature on peacekeeping, newspaper and magazine
articles, UN and other official documents, speeches,
congressional testimony and unpublished papers by
participants in PKOs were also extensively utilized.
The thesis was also based, in part, on first-hand
experience, as the candidate has observed peacekeeping
efforts in Mozambique, Angola, Israel, Liberia and
Peru.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of International Relations, 1998.