UN Peacekeeping Corruption: Missions, Misconduct & Reform
This paper reviews the structure and global scope of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and critically examines the corruption, sexual exploitation, and other criminal activities that have undermined its missions. Drawing on academic sources and reports from Transparency International, the paper traces the DPKO's origins, outlines its four main offices, and documents high-profile misconduct cases in Bosnia, Somalia, and Haiti — including the MINUSTAH mission following the 2010 earthquake. The paper argues that inadequate training, cross-cultural disparities among contributing nations, and the absence of a coherent anti-corruption policy have perpetuated misconduct. It concludes by proposing evidence-based training programs and greater institutional accountability as essential corrective measures.
- Introduction: Background, purpose, and scope of study
- Overview of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations: DPKO structure, offices, and global resources
- Corruption and Criminal Activities within UN Peacekeeping Missions: Systemic causes of misconduct and training gaps
- High-Profile Cases: Bosnia, Somalia, and Haiti: Case studies of trafficking, food-aid theft, and MINUSTAH
- What Can Be Done?: Reform proposals and Transparency International training
- Conclusion: Summary of findings and call for accountability
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What makes this paper effective
- Grounds its argument in a clear organizational overview before pivoting to criticism, giving readers the institutional context they need to evaluate the misconduct cases that follow.
- Uses direct quotations from Transparency International, UN sources, and journalists strategically to let authoritative voices substantiate claims rather than relying on assertion alone.
- Moves logically from systemic causes (training gaps, cross-cultural disparities, endemic corruption in host nations) to specific high-profile cases, then to concrete reform proposals — a classic problem-evidence-solution structure.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of a literature-review framework within a policy-analysis context. Rather than offering a single thesis-and-rebuttal argument, it synthesizes multiple sources — academic texts, NGO reports, journalism, and UN documents — to build a cumulative, multi-layered case. This approach allows the writer to show that corruption in UN peacekeeping is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic problem documented across regions and decades.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with historical context and a statement of purpose, then provides an institutional overview with supporting data and a table. The central analytical section examines systemic causes of misconduct before presenting case studies (Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti/MINUSTAH). A dedicated "What Can Be Done?" section transitions to prescriptive recommendations. The conclusion synthesizes findings and reiterates the training-reform argument, making the paper's arc clear from introduction to close.
Introduction
The United Nations (UN) was established in October 1945 in the immediate aftermath of World War II with the overarching mission to prevent future international conflicts. To this end, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations was formed just three years later in response to the emerging conflict between India and Pakistan. Since that time, UN peacekeepers operating under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations have completed hundreds of missions in Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The behaviors of UN peacekeepers, however, have not always been exemplary, and in some cases have risen to the level of corruption and even worse. To determine the facts about the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, this study systematically reviews the relevant literature concerning UN peacekeeping missions in general, and those that have been marred by corruption and other criminal activities — such as those that took place in Haiti following the massive earthquake in 2010 — in particular. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings about the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and its track record in the field are provided in the conclusion.
Overview of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is responsible for providing executive and political direction for all global UN peacekeeping operations, in coordination with the UN Security Council as well as Member States that contribute monetary support and military forces to these operations. The DPKO is also tasked with maintaining open lines of communication with conflicting parties during its peacekeeping operations.2 In addition, the DPKO serves in an advisory capacity for other UN peacebuilding missions and political initiatives.3
The first peacekeeping mission performed by the UN took place in 1948 in response to the partition of India and Pakistan, under the purview of the UN Office of Special Political Affairs, which retained control of UN peacekeeping operations until 1992 when the DPKO was formally established during the tenure of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.4 At present, the DPKO consists of four main offices, as described below.
Office of Operations: The main role of the Office of Operations is to provide political and strategic policy, operational guidance, and support to the missions.
Office of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI): Established in 2007, the OROLSI strengthens links and coordinates the Department's activities in the areas of police, justice and corrections, mine action, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, and security sector reform.
Office of Military Affairs (OMA): The OMA works to deploy the most appropriate military capability in support of United Nations objectives, and to enhance performance and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military components in UN peacekeeping missions.
Policy Evaluation and Training Division (PET): The PET Division provides an integrated capacity to develop and disseminate policy and doctrine; to develop, coordinate, and deliver standardized training; to evaluate mission progress toward mandate implementation; and to develop policies and operational frameworks for strategic cooperation with various UN and external partners.
As of May 31, 2017, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations comprised the following resources: 83,499 serving troops and military observers; 12,494 police personnel; 5,043 international civilian personnel; 10,276 local civilian staff; 1,599 UN Volunteers; and contributions of military and police personnel from 124 countries.5
Because the UN does not maintain its own standing police force, peacekeeping missions are performed by military or law enforcement representatives contributed by Member States. It is also noteworthy that in recent years, UN peacekeepers have been tasked with nation-building activities such as: (a) assisting in political processes; (b) reforming judicial systems; (c) training law enforcement and police forces; (d) disarming and reintegrating former combatants; and (e) supporting the return of internally displaced persons and refugees.6
References
"About Us." (2017). UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. [online] available:
Berman, Eric G. and Sams, Katie E. (2000). Peacekeeping in Africa: Capabilities and Culpabilities. Geneva: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
Beaubien, Jason (2017, April 22). "UN to Pull Controversial Peacekeepers from Haiti." National Public Radio. [online] available: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/04/22/525113236/u-n-to-pull-controversial-peacekeepers-from-haiti.
Burns, Rebecca (2011, December). "Haitians to U.N.: Please Leave." In These Times, vol. 35, no. 12, pp. 8–11.
"Corruption & Peacekeeping: Strengthening Peacekeeping and the UN." (2017). Transparency International. [online] available: defence.org/publications/corruption-peacekeeping-strengthening-peacekeeping-and-the-un/.
"Corruption in Peacekeeping." (2016, February 12). Transparency International. [online] available: http://futurepeaceops.org/2016/02/12/corruption-in-peacekeeping/.
"Department of Peacekeeping Operations [DPKO]." (2017). United Nations. [online] available:
Grey-Johnson, Grispin (2006, March–May). "Beyond Peacekeeping: The Challenges of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Peacebuilding in Africa." UN Chronicle, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 8–13.
Langholtz, Harvey and Kondoch, Boris (2005). International Peacekeeping: The Yearbook of International Peace Operations. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff.
Newman, Alex (2016, November 1). "The New American." Government Accountability Project. [online] available: https://www.whistleblower.org/multimedia/new-american-unsilenced-whistleblower-exposes-un-culture-corruption.
"UN Peacekeeping Missions Must Tackle Corruption." (2013, October 9). Transparency International. [online] available:
"United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti." (2017). United Nations. [online] available:
Warah, Rasna (2011, November). "Lords of Impunity … Why Whistleblowing at the UN Is a Waste of Time." New African, no. 511, pp. 72–75.
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