A peacekeeping mission is a group of military and police deployed to monitor a conflict, support post-conflict processes, and protect civilians. A peacekeeping mission is often deployed in a complex situation where conflicting goals may require different sets of tools to achieve the desired outcome. This can include separating warring factions, strengthening the rule of law, reintegrating former combatants, and supporting elections. Peacekeeping operations are most commonly deployed under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with the Security Council voting to authorize an operation and, typically, renewing it once its mandate expires. A peacekeeping operation can also be established by a regional organization with its own armed forces under UN operational control, such as the African Union’s MINURSO.
Since 1948, almost 130 nations have contributed troops and police personnel to over 100 peacekeeping missions worldwide. These missions can range from a small, lightly armed presence to a fully-fledged multidimensional force.
In a broader sense, peacekeeping represents a shift from diplomacy towards a more proactive approach to peacebuilding. This can involve addressing the root causes of the conflict, including power imbalances and the distribution of resources, as well as changing incentives for recent belligerents toward peace rather than war by ensuring that peacekeepers are deployed in a culturally sensitive manner.
New ideas and innovations are constantly evolving in the field of peacekeeping. For example, the 2000 Brahimi Report recommended that peacekeeping missions have a pot of discretionary money for quick impact projects. This was a novel idea that took hold, albeit with some delay, and has now become standard practice in peacekeeping.