Regulating the Use of Force by United Nations Peace Support Operations: Balancing Promises and Outcomes

This book explores the gaps between the United Nations' promises and outcomes in relation to its use of force and proposes a 'Unified Use of Force Rule' to address these issues. It is the first book to analyze the moral and legal aspects of UN use of force and will be valuable to law students, researchers, academics, and practitioners in international relations, international law, peacekeeping, and human rights.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book aims to bridge the gaps between the promises made by the United Nations (UN) in relation to its use of force and the outcomes achieved. It delves into two fundamental questions: why the contemporary legal framework governing force during armed conflicts fails to close the gaps between these promises and outcomes, and how the proposed 'Unified Use of Force Rule' outlined herein achieves this. This groundbreaking work is the first to comprehensively analyze the moral and legal dimensions relevant to UN use of force.

The landscape of UN peace operations is rapidly evolving, with deployed peacekeepers being tasked with the use of force to pursue a wide range of objectives, including self-defense, protecting civilians, and conducting targeted offensive operations. As a result, questions about when, where, and how to use force have become paramount in peacekeeping. While UN peace operations have successfully averted catastrophes of the scale witnessed in Rwanda and Srebrenica for over two decades, significant gaps still exist between the UN's promises on the use of force and the actual outcomes achieved. Current conflict zones, such as the Central African Republic, Eastern Congo, and Mali, serve as stark examples of this discrepancy.

In response to these challenges, this book seeks to provide answers and identify solutions. It explores the analytical ground that must be traversed before the first troops set foot on a battlefield, providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence UN decision-making in the use of force. Through rigorous analysis, the book proposes a 'Unified Use of Force Rule' that can serve as a model set of Rules of Engagement for UN forces. This rule is designed to address the gaps identified in the current legal framework and to ensure that the UN can deliver on its promises of protecting and promoting peace and security.

The significance of this book cannot be overstated. It will be of immense benefit to law practitioners, policymakers, academics, and anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of UN peace operations and the challenges associated with the use of force. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the legal and moral dimensions of UN use of force, this book offers valuable insights into how the UN can improve its effectiveness and accountability in the pursuit of peace and security.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of international law and peacekeeping. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the gaps between the UN's promises and outcomes in the use of force and proposes a innovative solution to address these challenges. By offering a 'Unified Use of Force Rule' that can serve as a model set of Rules of Engagement for UN forces, this book aims to bridge the gaps between the UN's aspirations and its achievements and to ensure that peace operations are conducted in a manner that upholds the highest standards of morality and legality.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367549381