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Peacekeepers against Criminal Violence—Unintended Effects of Peacekeeping Operations?

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  • Jessica Di Salvatore

Abstract

Research shows that peacekeepers reduce conflict intensity; however, effects of deployment on nonpolitical violence are unknown. This article focuses on criminal violence and proposes a twofold mechanism to explain why peacekeeping missions, even when effectively reducing conflict, can inadvertently increase criminal violence. First, less conflict opens up economic opportunities (so‐called peacekeeping economies) and provides operational security for organized crime, thus increasing violent competition among criminal groups. Second, demobilized combatants are vulnerable to turn to crime because of limited legal livelihood opportunities and their training in warfare. While UN troops may exacerbate these dynamics, UN police's peculiar role is likely to successfully contain criminal violence. Cross‐national and subnational empirical analyses show that large UN military deployments result in higher homicide rates, whereas UN police, overall, moderate this collateral effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica Di Salvatore, 2019. "Peacekeepers against Criminal Violence—Unintended Effects of Peacekeeping Operations?," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 63(4), pages 840-858, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:63:y:2019:i:4:p:840-858
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12451
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    Cited by:

    1. Caruso Raul, 2020. "What Post COVID-19? Avoiding a «Twenty-first Century General Crisis»," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 26(2), pages 1-09, May.
    2. Robert G Blanton & Dursun Peksen, 2025. "Peacekeeping operations and shadow economy growth in host countries," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 42(2), pages 148-167, March.
    3. Daniel McCarthy & Lawrence Ka‐ki Ho & Jason Kwun‐Hong Chan & Ian Brunton‐Smith, 2025. "Understanding public confidence in the police within democratic and authoritarian regimes," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(1), pages 32-42, February.
    4. Binyam Afewerk Demena & Amar Anwar & Syed Mansoob Murshed, 2024. "A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of External Interventions on Conflict Intensity: Navigating Heterogeneity and Unveiling Genuine Effects," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(4), pages 21582440241, December.
    5. Hannah Smidt, 2021. "Keeping electoral peace? Activities of United Nations peacekeeping operations and their effects on election-related violence," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 38(5), pages 580-604, September.
    6. Eric Mvukiyehe & Cyrus Samii, 2021. "Peacekeeping and development in fragile states: Micro-level evidence from Liberia," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(3), pages 368-383, May.
    7. Vincenzo Bove & Jessica Di Salvatore & Leandro Elia, 2025. "What it Takes to Return: UN Peacekeeping and the Safe Return of Displaced People," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 69(5), pages 898-924, May.

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