Problems and Progress: The Future of UN Peacekeeping

As the United Nations approaches its fiftieth anniversary, it is ironic to consider Bo Huldt’s observation that, as far as peacekeeping is concerned, we are back to 1964 — the year the UN ended the ONUC mission. The latter constituted both an experiment and an unhappy baptism by fire into non-traditional peacekeeping. The UN found itself embroiled in the affairs of a collapsed state riven by civil war. Stedman, a student of such wars, points out how difficult they can be to mediate, for the opposing parties generally exhibit winner-take-all mentalities which make compromise nigh-impossible. Indar Rikhye, who was closely involved with ONUC, opines that it never would have been attempted if member states had foreseen its complications and entanglements. Over a quarter-century would pass — more than half the lifetime of the organisation — before the UN would again initiate operations of comparable scope and ambition.