From Peacekeeping to Peace Enforcement. The Blurring of the Mandate for the Use of Force in Maintaining International Peace and Security
Abstract
Peacekeeping and peace enforcement are concepts which have their origins in the United Nations (UN) Charter. Among other things, the UN Charter is based on principles of sovereignty, non-intervention and the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Although peacekeeping was not explicitly provided for in the Charter, it has evolved since 1945 into a well developed concept based on certain agreed principles. With the end of the Cold War, the United Nations has willingly taken on a new and more aggressive role as 'peace enforce'. The propensity of the Security Council to authorize humanitarian interventions, however, has led to an anomaly -- peacekeepers, generally guided by the principle of neutrality and traditionally limited to self-defense, are finding themselves steadily in the more aggressive role of peace enforcer. The dynamic nature of humanitarian assistance operations has resulted in a gradually expanding mandate for the peacekeeper's authority to use force. As their objectives change and their authority to use force alters, peacekeeping missions are becoming increasingly less impartial and more assertive. This paper analyzes the full range of the use of force under UN auspices in the context of the UN charter and international law. The charter in practice has included peacekeeping and peace enforcement actions which have covered the full range of what has been called 'the spectrum of conflict'. The spectrum would have peacekeeping, with little or no force beyond self-defense authorized and the full consent of the host government, at one end, and at the other a peace enforcement action 'all necessary' force and a total lack of consent.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA283935
Entities
People
- Jon Fink
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School