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Understanding Peacekeeping
Peace operations remain a principal tool for managing armed conflict and protecting civilians. The fully revised, expanded and updated third edition of Understanding Peacekeeping provides a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the theory, history, and politics of peace operations.
Drawing on a dataset of nearly two hundred historical and contemporary missions, this book evaluates the changing characteristics of the contemporary international environment in which peace operations are deployed, the strategic purposes peace operations are intended to achieve, and the major challenges facing today’s peacekeepers. All the chapters have been revised and updated, and five new chapters have been added – on stabilization, organized crime, exit strategies, force generation, and the use of force.
Part 1 summarizes the central concepts and issues related to peace operations. Part 2 charts the historical development of peacekeeping, from 1945 through to 2020. Part 3 analyses the strategic purposes that United Nations and other peace operations are intended to achieve – namely, prevention, observation, assistance, enforcement, stabilization, and administration. Part 4 looks forward and examines the central challenges facing today’s force generation, the regionalization and privatization of peace operations, the use of force, civilian protection, gender issues, policing and organized crime, and exit strategies.
Drawing on a dataset of nearly two hundred historical and contemporary missions, this book evaluates the changing characteristics of the contemporary international environment in which peace operations are deployed, the strategic purposes peace operations are intended to achieve, and the major challenges facing today’s peacekeepers. All the chapters have been revised and updated, and five new chapters have been added – on stabilization, organized crime, exit strategies, force generation, and the use of force.
Part 1 summarizes the central concepts and issues related to peace operations. Part 2 charts the historical development of peacekeeping, from 1945 through to 2020. Part 3 analyses the strategic purposes that United Nations and other peace operations are intended to achieve – namely, prevention, observation, assistance, enforcement, stabilization, and administration. Part 4 looks forward and examines the central challenges facing today’s force generation, the regionalization and privatization of peace operations, the use of force, civilian protection, gender issues, policing and organized crime, and exit strategies.
479 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 19, 2025
Rich with examples, making understanding peacekeeping easier and all concepts more tangible. Great for acquiring basic relevant knowledge, but hardly enough for advanced research.
November 28, 2015
This book is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in peacekeeping. Bellamy, Williams and Griffin do an excellent job by making a very broad and systematic overview of history, achievements and challenges of efforts to free the world from the scourge of war. Theoretically, the book is informed by the English school and its concept of international society. However, don't expect too much theory - most of the material is discussion of policies. The central analytical argument of the book is a distinction between Westphalian and post-Westphalian peacekeeping. Whereas the former category is dealing with peace among states the latter revolves around peace within states. This tension, mirrors wider tensions between national and human security as well as between pluralist and solidarist conceptions of international society. According to the authors, due to the forces of globalization, the post-Westphalian peacekeeping such as state-building and peace enforcement is increasingly getting the upper hand in world politics.
May 5, 2010
Paul Williams knows a hell of a lot about peacekeeping! And he cites my work in "Must Boys be Boys? Ending Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Operations" in the gender section so it must be good!
February 8, 2022
Williams and Bellamy give an astonishing detailed and very thoroughly analysed account on basically every aspect of peacekeeping.
In the book various topics as from the origin, funding, P/TCC and exit strategies are reviewed and categorised; always with multiple examples.
In the book various topics as from the origin, funding, P/TCC and exit strategies are reviewed and categorised; always with multiple examples.
January 25, 2021
Offers a detailed understanding of the UN and their role in Peacekeeping and the challenges associated with the role.
Useful read for those interested in International Disaster Management, Peacekeeping Operations and Global politics.
A long read and abbreviation overload! But a great book!!
Useful read for those interested in International Disaster Management, Peacekeeping Operations and Global politics.
A long read and abbreviation overload! But a great book!!
March 17, 2022
An impressively thorough and wide ranging work on peacekeeping operations, with plenty of historical context as well as analysis on issues and opportunities with peacekeeping.
I came to this book without any specific background, but had run into references to different peacekeeping operations in other books involving the Cold War and modern era. I wanted to get a more coherent view on peacekeeping specifically, and this book certainly gives a richly detailed account.
The expertise of the authors is plainly apparent from all the knowledge presented. At the same time, I still found it approachable. The arguments are well presented, differing views are showcased, and the broader historical and political context is woven throughout. If you are looking to get a deeper understanding on peacekeeping, it's past and future, this book is a very helpful resource to turn to.
I came to this book without any specific background, but had run into references to different peacekeeping operations in other books involving the Cold War and modern era. I wanted to get a more coherent view on peacekeeping specifically, and this book certainly gives a richly detailed account.
The expertise of the authors is plainly apparent from all the knowledge presented. At the same time, I still found it approachable. The arguments are well presented, differing views are showcased, and the broader historical and political context is woven throughout. If you are looking to get a deeper understanding on peacekeeping, it's past and future, this book is a very helpful resource to turn to.
January 17, 2014
That´s what I would call good academic work! Interesting, with any possible information you might be looking for. Cross references, objective, neutral. Respect!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews