State Rationales for Contributing Troops to UN Peacekeeping Operations

In many conflict zones around the globe - spreading from Sub-Saharan Africa to Eastern Europe and from the Middle East to Haiti - contingent troops, experts, staff officers, police and personnel are working under the umbrella of the United Nations. Countries struggle to promote peace and stability, as well as maintain the rule of law and order.

According to conflict resolution theorists, peacekeeping operations are necessary for positive conflict transformation. Thus the UN peacekeeping operations play a fundamental role in maintaining world peace. 

The UN peacekeeping’s mandate is unique in terms of global partnership. It is set by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council; consent of the host country is needed, as is that by troop and police contributors. 

UN peacekeeping troops help countries navigate the challenging path from conflict to stability. However, as the UN doesn’t have a regular army, it relies on member states troop to carry out peacekeeping operations in conflict areas. 

In this research research paper, titled ‘State Rationales for Contributing Troops to UN Peacekeeping Operations’, MAKAM KHAN DAIM and ISIDORE HENRY EDET demonstrate that well-equipped and trained UN peacekeeping operations promote peace and stability more efficiently. The paper, published by Brussels-based South Asia Democratic Forum,  centres on an important question: what motivates the willingness of member states to contribute with troops to UN peacekeeping operations. 

“We found that states experiencing inter-state rivalry and with struggling economies tend to contribute more troops than great powers and wealthy states,” the authors state. They use the Bellamy and Williams’ Model and Middle Power theory to better analyse the rationale of troops contribution in peacekeeping operations. China is also used as a case study in the paper.