Why are some United Nations peacekeeping operations more successful than others?

Abstract

The most often used method for stopping conflicts such as civil wars and genocides is peacekeeping by the United Nations. But these operations don't always work completely. In fact, they prove to sometimes be great failures. But what can we consider to be a success? According to the UN, a success in peacekeeping is defined as an operation where basic security guarantees and response to crises were provided, as well as support for political transitions and fragile new state institutions. The UN lists operations in countries such as Cambodia and El Salvador to have been successful in ending conflict and promoting normal development, even if major peacebuilding challenges remain. However, there have been instances of failure (where the above criteria weren't met), and the UN considers the operations in Rwanda and Bosnia among them. To determine the chance of success, I have examined research on the effects of four factors on four countries, and I have produced the a causal model with hypotheses.