CONTEMPORARY

PEACE OPERATIONS

Ivan Velimir Starčević, M. A.Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the

Republic of Croatia

Athens , September-October 2009

About the author

Ivan Velimir Starčević

- Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia

- B. A. from the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, M. A. from the same Faculty

- Diplomatic assignments abroad : New Delhi, Athens, Belgrade, Sarajevo

- Deputy Head for Civilian Affairs at the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Feyzabad, Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, August 2005 - December 2006

On the banks of Amu Darja, NE Afghanistan, August 2006

FACTS AND FIGURES

Current UN operations :

- peacekeeping operations - DPKO = 17 (15+2)

- political and peacebuilding operations - DPA = 10 (12-2 administered by DPKO : UNAMA and BINUB)

Since 1948 total of 63 UN peace operations, 48 accomplished, 15 ongoing

UN peace operations’ budget for 2008/2009 - 7.1 bil. USD (about 0.5 % of global military spending - estimated at 1.232 trillion USD)

In UN operations worldwide at the moment over 115.000 personnel (82.000 military, 11.000 police), in all operations including MNF-I and ISAF at the end of 2008 about 315.000 (SIPRI)

Total number of ongoing operations over 60 under various lead agencies

DEVELOPMENT OF UN PEACE OPERATIONS

Classical peacekeeping- consent of the parties involved - impartiality- non-use of force except in self-defence

Agenda for Peace,1992

Brahimi Report, 2000

Capstone doctrine, 2008- conflict prevention- peacemaking- peacekeeping- peace enforcement- peacebuilding

New Horizons, July 2009

New concepts: - sovereignty as responsibility - humanitarian intervention - responsibility to protect - R2P

PEACE OPERATIONS TODAY

Peace operations & crisis management/conflict management

Change of paradigm – mighty states no longer main threat to world security, failing/failed/rogue states instead

Peace operations after 9/11, terrorism, assymetric warfare, war on terror, COIN - exception or rule in the future?

Which level of military activities can be “tolerated” in a peace operation (eg. Iraq, Afghanistan)?

What is the source of legitimacy for a peace operation, is UN mandate required/indispensable?

Basic framework : redefining of the concept of state sovereignty - robust operations - R2P (individual vs. state sovereignty )

DIFFERENTIATION & INTEGRATION

Differentiation

(1) Terminology : peace missions – peace operations – peace support

operations & complex body of others

(2) Intra-agency differentiation

(3) Inter-agency differentiation : different lead agencies (UN, EU, AU, NATO,

OSCE, OAS, ECOWAS, CIS etc), coalitions of the willing, individual states

(4) Paralelism : multiple operations in the same theatre

DIFFERENTIATION & INTEGRATION

Integration

(1) macro level : comprehensive approach (integrated approach, whole of government approach, 3D approach)

(2) micro level : Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan and Iraq

(3) new conceptual framework?

HOW TO START AN OPERATION?

Conducting peace operation is art rather than science, practical approach looks like a suitable starter

Going to peace operation is like packing your suitcase in a way you did for earlier trips, but - there is no panacea!

Peace operations require sensibility and sophistication, we have to act like old artisans

In 40% of post-conflict countries conflicts are repeated within 10 years (Collier)

Value of preparation, planning for departure from the outset

HOW TO CONDUCT AND END AN OPERATION?

Security, governance, R&D and social services; security is number one

Sequencing (Golden hour) and prioritization, patience and resilience

Dilemmas: how to cut circle of violence? how to build perception/reality of normalcy? how to ensure that progress is native/sustainable? how to unlock local resources and set up working economy ?

Environments - host country, NGOs & GOs, media, home front Peace operations take long time, it’s time to go home when the recipient state

is self-legitimizing

How to measure success? Question of metrics and measurements or . . . ?

HUMAN DIMENSION

Peace operations between nobility and pragmatism (Nobel Peace Prize 1988 vs. privatization of peace operations)

People vs. technology in modern peace operations

High Tech High Touch

Establish set of principles

- Modesty

- Humility

- Cultural understanding

- Common sense

- Interaction (peace operation is a two-way street)

- other

PEACE OPERATIONS IN A POSTMODERN ERA

Differentiation and integration

Decentralization

Multidimensionality

Globalization

Cultural sensibilization

Ethical dimension

Pluralism of actors

Relativism

New challenges (R2P, gender dimension, peace operations & children, peace operations & environment)

Terrorism and peace operations (postmodern war, assymetric war, virtual war, simulation, performance etc.)

END The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or positions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of

the Republic of Croatia