Is UN Peacekeeping Losing Its Appeal?
2021-07-29
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1In the early 1990s, Canada had over 3,000 troops deployed in peacekeeping missions around the world.
2Today, it has only a few dozen.
3Canada is not the only Western country to have greatly reduced such missions.
4The drop in numbers, military experts say, demonstrates the changing nature of conflict in a post-Cold War world.
5Major Tim Dunne is a retired officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.
6He was deployed in several peacekeeping operations.
7Now, he is a researcher for the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
8He said United Nations peacekeeping is "falling out of fashion."
9In other words, it is becoming less common and popular.
10Dunne told VOA that before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, most international conflicts were driven by competition between the United States and the Soviet Union.
11He said this created the need for a neutral army to stand between them.
12Dunne said that most modern conflicts, like in Syria and Iraq, are too complex for peacekeeping to work.
13"The factors that allow for effective peacekeeping aren't there anymore," Dunne said.
14It is not only Canada that is rethinking the value of United Nations' peacekeeping.
15Emily Estelle works for the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute.
16Estelle points to the lack of public support in Western nations for the costly and sometimes dangerous missions.
17She used the Sahel, an area in Africa, to explain the change in operations.
18She said France leads the counterterrorism operation in Mali but is working to end its involvement and the operation.
19She said it is in part because of pressure within France and an upcoming election.
20She also said Mali and Somalia, which is facing a similar situation, would not be able to replace the influence peacekeepers have, "if and when they withdraw."
21In Canada's case, the country's long-standing history to U.N. peacekeeping operations has largely been replaced by involvement in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) operations.
22These include involvement in the operation that defeated the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria and the NATO operation, now ending, in Afghanistan.
23Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration has promised to deploy more troops and police to international peacekeeping.
24But the proposed numbers remain only in the hundreds.
25Charlie Herbert is a former top-level NATO advisor to the Afghan Ministry of the Interior and a former director at the Defense Academy of the United Kingdom.
26Herbert said Britain is showing some interest in bringing new life to U.N. peacekeeping.
27He sees this as a reaction to the decision to pull NATO forces out of Afghanistan.
28He told VOA, "The withdrawal from Afghanistan marks the end of an era."
29He also said the withdrawal provides the chance for "...all Western nations to reconsider the use of their military as an instrument of their foreign policy."
30He said Britain is using this as a chance to reinvest in high-end peacekeeping operations.
31It remains to be seen if other Western countries will follow Britain's lead.
32I'm Gregory Stachel.
1In the early 1990s, Canada had over 3,000 troops deployed in peacekeeping missions around the world. Today, it has only a few dozen. 2Canada is not the only Western country to have greatly reduced such missions. The drop in numbers, military experts say, demonstrates the changing nature of conflict in a post-Cold War world. 3Major Tim Dunne is a retired officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was deployed in several peacekeeping operations. Now, he is a researcher for the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He said United Nations peacekeeping is "falling out of fashion." In other words, it is becoming less common and popular. 4Dunne told VOA that before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, most international conflicts were driven by competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. He said this created the need for a neutral army to stand between them. 5Dunne said that most modern conflicts, like in Syria and Iraq, are too complex for peacekeeping to work. 6"The factors that allow for effective peacekeeping aren't there anymore," Dunne said. 7It is not only Canada that is rethinking the value of United Nations' peacekeeping. 8Emily Estelle works for the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute. Estelle points to the lack of public support in Western nations for the costly and sometimes dangerous missions. 9She used the Sahel, an area in Africa, to explain the change in operations. 10She said France leads the counterterrorism operation in Mali but is working to end its involvement and the operation. She said it is in part because of pressure within France and an upcoming election. 11She also said Mali and Somalia, which is facing a similar situation, would not be able to replace the influence peacekeepers have, "if and when they withdraw." 12In Canada's case, the country's long-standing history to U.N. peacekeeping operations has largely been replaced by involvement in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) operations. These include involvement in the operation that defeated the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria and the NATO operation, now ending, in Afghanistan. 13Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration has promised to deploy more troops and police to international peacekeeping. But the proposed numbers remain only in the hundreds. 14Charlie Herbert is a former top-level NATO advisor to the Afghan Ministry of the Interior and a former director at the Defense Academy of the United Kingdom. 15Herbert said Britain is showing some interest in bringing new life to U.N. peacekeeping. He sees this as a reaction to the decision to pull NATO forces out of Afghanistan. 16He told VOA, "The withdrawal from Afghanistan marks the end of an era." 17He also said the withdrawal provides the chance for "...all Western nations to reconsider the use of their military as an instrument of their foreign policy." 18He said Britain is using this as a chance to reinvest in high-end peacekeeping operations. It remains to be seen if other Western countries will follow Britain's lead. 19I'm Gregory Stachel. 20Jay Heisler reported this story for Voice of America. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 21_______________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23fashion -n. a style or way of behaving that is popular in a particular time and place 24factor -n. something that helps produce or influence a result: one of the things that cause something to happen 25allow -v. to permit (something): to regard or treat (something) as acceptable 26counterterrorism -n. actions by a group, army, etc., that are done to prevent terrorist attacks and destroy terrorist networks - often used before another noun 27replace - v. to do the job or duty of (someone) 28era -n. a period of time that is associated with a particular quality, event, or person