UN Peacekeeping Doctrine and Its Implications for Future US Operations

Abstract : The United Nations recently achieved the milestone of 60 years of peacekeeping operations since the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East in 1948. During the past 60 years the UN has seen its peacekeeping missions rise in number and complexity and has witnessed a shift from traditional state-on-state challenges to much more complex internal struggles, often involving non-state actors. Analysis of the 2008 United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Principles and Guidelines, reveals an acknowledgement of these complexities and attempts to codify roles and responsibilities for the UN Headquarters, troop contributing countries, police contributing countries and member states that contribute by other means. This paper analyzes and critiques the first doctrine ever published by the UN regarding peacekeeping operations, focusing on peacekeeping lines of effort and UN command and control arrangements. The paper proposes that the security line of effort outlined in the 2008 UN Peacekeeping Operations Principles and Guidelines must be led by a lead nation or a regional organization with established command and control capabilities in order to properly synchronize the functions required for sustainable peace.