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United Nations peacekeeping dynamics and the duration of post-civil conflict peace

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Hultman

    (Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden)

  • Jacob D. Kathman

    (Department of Political Science, University at Buffalo, SUNY, USA)

  • Megan Shannon

    (Department of Political Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA)

Abstract

How do the qualities of United Nations peacekeeping operations (PKOs) influence the duration of peace after civil wars? Recent work shows that UN peacekeeping extends the duration of peace. However, this work has only been able to assess whether the presence or absence of UN missions affects post-conflict peace processes. Such analyses offer little in the way of policy prescriptions for planning and structuring PKOs to effectively pursue their goals. By employing fine-grained data on the personnel composition of PKOs, and generating expectations from rationalist bargaining models of civil war, we argue that the number and type of personnel deployed to a PKO influence the UN’s ability guarantee peace by addressing the information and commitment problems that so often lead to the collapse of post-conflict peace. We analyze how the composition of missions influences the duration of peace, finding that, as the number of UN military troops deployed increases, the chance of civil war recurring decreases. However, other personnel types do not have the same effect. We conclude that the effectiveness of post-conflict peacekeeping lies in the ability of PKOs to alleviate commitment problems through the deployment of military troops that are able to defend the peace.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Hultman & Jacob D. Kathman & Megan Shannon, 2016. "United Nations peacekeeping dynamics and the duration of post-civil conflict peace," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 33(3), pages 231-249, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:compsc:v:33:y:2016:i:3:p:231-249
    DOI: 10.1177/0738894215570425
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    References listed on IDEAS

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