Peace Operations – Fit for the Future

A German Contribution to Operational Demands and Reform Considerations for Sustainable Peacekeeping Operations of the 21st century

Context

Recent data of conflict research indicate that intra-state conflicts and state failure rank among the most pressing global security issues. Stabilizing and reconstructing post-conflict countries and fragile states are a central challenge for the international community.

Peace operations are key tools in this area and have witnessed a sharp expansion during the last ten years. Currently, there are 29 peace operations led by the UN or EU. Additionally the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) maintains 10 peacebuilding missions, and regional organizations or individual states contribute to another 11 field operations. The various presences of OSCE missions complete the picture of current peace operations at the beginning of the 21st century (cf. World Map Crisis Prevention and Peace Operations 2011).

Current demand for peace operations already exceeds existing resources by far. A decline in conflicts is highly unlikely in the years to come. However, the mixed track record of peace operations clearly reminds us of the need for conceptual advancement in due consideration of lessons learned.

Individual member states of international organizations need to play a crucial role in the reform process. Germany has – not least through the establishment of the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) – gained valuable experience which provides the basis for stimulus to reform. The German government has repeatedly underlined the importance of international peace operations, specifically their role in preventive action and early responses to erupting conflicts. In context of comprehensive approaches, this calls for adequate military, police, and civil capacities and instruments in Germany as well as internationally. The project seeks to contribute substantially to this core area of German foreign policy.

Incorporating all three unit of ZIF, it will do so on two levels:

• strategically and conceptually through ZIF’s participation in international fora, in-house conferences, strategic foresight and scenario planning;
• operationally through the advancement of networking and mentoring activities in the areas of recruitment and training.

Selected activities in the framework of the project

• Expert Workshop "Beyond Heavy Peacekeeping", June 2010, Berlin, Meeting Note
• Launch of the Annual Review of Global Peace Operations 2011, Juni 2011, Berlin
• Scenario Workshop "The Future of Peace Operations in the Year 2025", September 2011, Berlin