Third Generation Peacekeeping - Essay Example

Third Generation Peacekeeping Third Generation Peacekeeping is a shift from the focused model to a population focused model (Beebe 94). The second generation focused on protecting the interest of the state. Traditionally, war was attributed to rivalry resulting from threats to the territorial security, economy viability and state sovereignty. Although the 2nd generation peace keeping operations were successful in Europe, they failed in Africa and the Middle East (Beebe 94). This was attributed to the fact that the cause was due to intrastate conflict rather that interstate cause. This paper will seek to discuss the application of the third generation peace operation in Africa. The UN peacekeeping operations are established with the objective of addressing the insecurity challenges affecting the population. The shift to the third generation peace keeping operation have been attributed to the fact that the internal conflicts in Africa, as well as the Middle east, are not as a result of economic, territorial or infrastructure threats. These operations are set up to address health, food, cultural, environment, economic, personal and political insecurity (Fen 283). The internal conflicts in Somalia are said to be attributed to poverty, hunger and political instability. The traditional peacekeeping methods have been characterized with failure when applied in Africa and the Middle East. A good example was the attempts by the UN to resolve the conflict in Somalia in the 90’s. In the third generation peacekeeping operations, the UN employs both military and non military aspects to address the insecurity challenges. The military aspects include training of the police and the military forces of the state country instead of deploying foreign troops (Beebe 100). Military training also encompasses technology and infrastructure development. In other situations, a combined force of the police and the military personnel is established to address the pressing issues. Other military aspects involve the maintaining and enforcement of the rule of law (Munson 211). This involves training of the judicial system as well as the anti corruption units on the maintenance of law and order. It also involves restoring peace by disarming the conflicting parties. In Somali, this has been applied to ensure that the innocent civilians are not killed, yet the Al-Shabaab are disarmed and arrested. It also encompasses facilitating of elections and implementation of a government in case of a totally collapsed state. The UN also facilitates the delivery of aid (Beebe 101). The non military aspects involve the provision of the needed aid in terms of food, drugs and shelter. The humanitarian based intervention also encompasses the provision of security to the refugees and the volunteers who deliver the aid supplies. They also provide a safe ground where citizens can seek shelter. In the Middle East, the UN facilitates the development of various refugee camps where the citizens were assured of protection. Multilateral institutions that play a part in 3rd generation peace keeping include the UN. The most important branch is the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It introduced the concept of Human Development report. UNDP noted that there were unaddressed concerns with regards to ordinary people caught up between warring factions (Fen 287). For this subset, security symbolizes the protection from disease threats. Diseases occur in time of conflict. This is owing to the fact that there lacks adequate healthcare and personnel. The UNDP recognizes this. It delivers drugs and personnel so as to address this issue. Another 3rd generation concern that the UNDP lays a role in includes fighting hunger. Relief food is circulated by this multilateral institution to the warring parts. Other areas that concern the UNDP include fighting unemployment, environmental hazards among others. UNDP notes and addresses the conflicts happening within a particular nation so as to ensure this form of peacekeeping. The UN Good Offices Mission for Afghanistan and Pakistan was developed so as to coordinate humanitarian and economic assistance programs on behalf of the UN (Fen, 282). There is a need for interagency coordination between various multilateral institutions so as to ensure 3rd generation peacekeeping. Other institutions include NATO, ECOWAS and European Union. African Union (AU) peacekeeping is an imperative player in matters regarding human security. This is with regards to African Countries such as Somali. It seeks to create a sustainable human security framework within the continent. Africans in affected countries live with fear from deaths due to diseases, pestilence and violence. AU understands that populations with little hope for tomorrow are more than willing to mortgage tomorrow for the sake of today’s survival (Beebe 62). AU utilizes African states to ensure the spirit of openness and cooperation so as to address humanitarian problems in a transparent manner. It undertakes training of police and military in affected countries in matters to do with human security. The Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes in Africa (ACCORD) is another important institution that works hand in hand with African Union. It seeks to establish creative African solutions regarding the challenges that are brought about by conflicts in the continent. It has led to the establishment of institutional developments in warring countries. There are several state and government actors that play part in 3rd generation peacekeeping. In Africa, most include neighboring countries that have political stability. In the case of Somali, Kenya has been very instrumental in ensuring that refugees have access to basic needs. Its military personnel have outreach programs, which work hand in hand with other players to ensure food and health related problems are addressed within Somali (Beebe 62). US and other western countries are also key to peacekeeping in middle east and Africa. European states involvements in multilateral operations are subject to controversy. These developed countries can offer economic resuscitation, build infrastructures among others. Incentives for such state actors include economical incentives. These governments may engage in 3rd generation peacekeeping for economic gain. At the end of conflict resolution in Middle East and Africa, investment options may arise. Such state players will then engage affected countries in terms of economic partnership. These states will stand in a better position in terms of trade relations with the affected countries. Another incentive is strategic interests. After the peacekeeping, political ties between the two countries are strengthened. The countries will then have a peaceful relationship. The peacekeeping operations are faced with various challenges. The UN is faced with lack of support and consent from the conflicting state. During the time of war, the government of Zimbabwe was unwilling to cooperate with the UN. The president ensured that he frustrated all the operations initiated by the UN. The lack of resource and infrastructure has greatly affected the implementation of these peacekeeping operations (Beebe 95). This is attributed to the reluctance by the international community to offer financial assistance to the operations of the multinational institutions. The developed nations are also reluctant in providing personnel for the peacekeeping operation. This is primarily because the developed nations are unwilling to invest in states where they lack political or economic interest. It has also been attributed to the raised deaths of the peacekeeping personnel by the rebel groups (Fen 288). The successful implementation of the third generation peacekeeping operations has also been hindered by the raising cases of sexual scandals reported. In Liberia, the peacekeepers were accused of sexually abusing women and children. They used food and other commodities to blackmail the girls. This resulted in raised suspicion of operations by the local residents. In addition, the success of these operations is dependent on the interest of the member states rather that the humanitarian need needed in the conflicting nations. These new generation peacekeeping operations are aimed at offering humanitarian support to the conflicting states. This includes addressing security challenges associated with food, health and environment (Beebe 98). It also aims at using humanitarian approach in facilitating peace. The new generation peace keeping operations are aimed at addressing the root cause of the problem while being focused on the population rather than the state. Works Cited Beebe, Shannon. Solutions not yet sought: A human security paradigm for 21st century Africa. Print. Security, Strategic and Military studies, 4.1 (2009): 1-4. Print. Fen, Hampson. The role of the United Nations in peacekeeping and conflict resolution. Peace and Security, 3.3 (2010): 282-288. Print. Munson, Henry. Lifting the veil: Understanding the roots of Islamic militancy. Harvard International Review, 2.11 (2012): 211-213. Print. Read More