Work

Children of their time: The impact of world politics on United Nations peace operations

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Peace operations are the main instrument of the United Nations (UN) to maintain international peace and security. This special issue analyzes how recent changes in world politics, in terms of increased geopolitical competition and contestation of the liberal international order, have influenced UN peace operations. It combines International Relations (IR) theory and peace research by calling for a macro-level analysis of UN peace operations. It thereby contributes to core debates in IR about the changing global order and its manifestations, as well as to peace research by analyzing how structural factors influence the UN’s role in promoting peace. Overall, the special issue further promotes a macro turn in peace research, which we argue is urgently needed at a time when the UN’s role in maintaining international peace and security is questioned by major and emerging powers and by host states.

Source: Contemporary Security Policy

DOI: 10.1080/13523260.2025.2470590

Authors: Sara Hellmüller, Fanny Badache

Institutions: Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, University of Geneva

Language: English

Topic: Global Peace and Security Dynamics

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung