Does Peacekeeping Work?: Shaping Belligerents' Choices after Civil War

by Virginia Page Fortna

In the last fifteen years, the number, size, and scope of peacekeeping missions deployed in the aftermath of civil wars have increased exponentially. From Croatia and Cambodia, to Nicaragua and Namibia, international personnel have been sent to maintain peace around the world. But does peacekeeping work? And if so, how? In Does Peacekeeping Work? Virginia Page Fortna answers these questions through the systematic analysis of civil wars that have taken place since the end of the Cold War. She compares peacekeeping and nonpeacekeeping cases, and she investigates where peacekeepers go, showing that their missions are crucial to the most severe internal conflicts in countries and regions where peace is otherwise likely to falter. Fortna demonstrates that peacekeeping is an extremely effective policy tool, dramatically reducing the risk that war will resume. Moreover, she explains that relatively small and militarily weak consent-based peacekeeping operations are often just as effective as larger, more robust enforcement missions. Fortna examines the causal mechanisms of peacekeeping, paying particular attention to the perspective of the peacekept--the belligerents themselves--on whose decisions the stability of peace depends. Based on interviews with government and rebel leaders in Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, Does Peacekeeping Work? demonstrates specific ways in which peacekeepers alter incentives, alleviate fear and mistrust, prevent accidental escalation to war, and shape political procedures to stabilize peace.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Political Science

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Izzy Lashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For 4803 Peace and Security; probably one of the most in-depth texts I have read that analyzes and studies the successes and challenges of Peace Keeping. Very helpful.

[C.]

better to have peacekept and lost than to have not peacekept at all

[Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main claims of this book are:

-Does Peacekeeping work? Yes, most of the time, it has a positive effect on the peace process.

-Where do Peacekeepers go? To places where peace is most difficult to achieve among belligerents.

-How does Peacekeeping increase the chance for lasting peace? By changing the motives and incentives of both the belligerents and the "peacekept". Instead, sides of the conflict will be incentivized to seek legitimacy, either in power-sharing or in international recognition, which pushes moderates to the front and disincentivizes extreme elements. For the "peacekept," peacekeeping missions increase security, reduce mistrust between sides by acting as a mediator, and provide stability. Conditional aid is also a powerful element Fortna considers in this.

The results Fortna shows are statistically significant. However, I would like to see more work on the qualitative end. Fortna only talked about 3 specific cases. I think a follow-up to this book, applying her causal theories to more specific peacekeeping cases would be a good supplement (unless it already exists.)

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually it doesn't. But it is an excellent excuse to support the powerful governments in their war generating madness.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional research, less than exceptional editing.

[Davin O'regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like a such an excellent model for an effective and efficient dissertation.