Peace Studies and Issues of Contemporary Conflict

Peace Studies and Issues of Contemporary Conflict Resolution

Peacekeeping (prevention and containment)

The act of peacekeeping can be likened to quarantine efforts during an epidemic as it is primarily about containing and preventing violence the way a contagious disease/infection is contained and prevented from spreading during quarantine. Traditionally, peacekeeping operations have been about separating combatants, isolating them from each other, often forcibly, and typically led/facilitated by UN peacekeeping forces (visit www.un.org for a list peacekeeping operations). Ramsbotham (2009b) labels the more traditional operations as "First-and-Second Generation UN Peacekeeping," (p. 148) and suggests that contemporary peacekeeping operations (post-1995), or "Third-Generation Peacekeeping," are the product of enhanced definitions and theoretical development regarding peace operations and conflict resolution (p. 154-166). In fact, in his case study example of peacekeeping operations in Somalia from 1991-2010, Ramsbotham (1995b) offers some insight into the practical implications of an evolving peacekeeping field (p. 167-169).

Peacekeeping operations are an approach to bringing an end to violence and managing the core conflicts that lead to such violence. When dealing with humans and human groups, the reality of conflict is unavoidable and it can be constructive. However, as Ramsbotham (1995a) and other resources suggest, conflict is often rooted in violence, corrupting those who use it and destroying those against whom it is used. Violence is utterly destructive for all parties that are involved and it is ultimately dehumanizing as well. According to Johan Galtung (1976) traditional peacekeeping efforts focus on this reality of 'violent conflict' that needs to be managed/stopped rather than the transformation of conflict towards peace. Galtung (1976) believes this type of traditional peacekeeping generates a negative peace rather than a positive peace (Galtung, 1976).

Despite the criticisms, any efforts to contain and prevent violence/violent conflict are important and necessary. In this regard, traditional peacekeeping served a purpose and there is much to learn from these efforts as peacekeeping operations evolve and peacekeepers progress towards a more expansive and comprehensive role in society. Some might consider traditional peacekeeping to be a relic of the Cold War, but more likely, the Cold War served as a context for development, for such men as Johan Galtung, considered one of the founders of the field of peaceful conflict transformation, to develop their ideas.

In conducting peacekeeping operations, a number of challenges can arise depending on the nature and context of the efforts. A few major examples (though nowhere near comprehensive) are listed and described as follows:

1. Intercultural challenges: Conflict is set in a certain cultural context, often a multicultural context and peacekeepers (especially those UN forces involved) come from different countries/cultures; thus, culture shock, cultural insensitivity, and cultural miscommunications are inevitable. Cultural awareness trainings should be required.