UN Peacekeeping Operations in a Multipolar Era
How is multipolarity impacting on UN peacekeeping operations? This article sets out to answer this question by examining the ongoing decline in UN peacekeeping operations and the concurrent rise of regional and ad hoc coalitions in an era of increasing geopolitical competition. The article argues that coalitions have significantly less focus on human rights, international humanitarian law, and the protection of civilians. They thus represent a shift away from the liberal values that have marked UN peacekeeping operations, and are coherent with current geopolitical shifts where China is chipping away at human rights at the UN and African states are increasingly voicing a need for more robust operations. The article concludes that the likely outcome of these trends is a continued decline of UN multidimensional peacekeeping, but that coalitions may receive logistical and administrative support from the UN peace operations machinery.
Rapport fra Respons-prosjektets åpningskonferanse, Oslo, 21. mars 2023
Åpningskonferansen for Utenriksdepartementets Respons-prosjekt fant sted på Sentralen i Oslo 21. mars 2023. Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt (NUPI) var arrangør, og arrangementet var derfor organisert innenfor rammen av NUPIs årlige utenrikspolitiske konferanse. Tittel for konferansen var “Norsk utenrikspolitisk konferanse 2023: Respons – norsk utenrikspolitikk for en ny tid”. Programmet besto av seks sekvenser, med til sammen 28 innledere og ordstyrere på scenen. Åpningssekvensen risset opp det overordnede bildet, etterfulgt av egne bolker om sikkerhetspolitikk, utviklingen i nord-sør dynamikken og forholdet mellom Kina og Vesten. Konferansens to siste sekvenser tok for seg norsk utenrikspolitikk i møte med en internasjonal kontekst i rask endring. Statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) holdt åpningstalen i den første bolken, mens utenriksminister Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap) deltok i panelsamtale i den siste bolken. Mesteparten av programmet foregikk på norsk, men enkelte innlegg og utvekslinger ble holdt på engelsk. Under følger en oppsummering av noen hovedtema og problemstillinger som ble drøftet i hver bolk.
Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet: Jemen
Yemen is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world due to a combination of prolonged conflict, economic crisis and recurrent climate change-related natural hazards. These hazards include temperature increases, rising sea levels and changing patterns in rainfall, causing floods, droughts, reduced water availability and soil degradation. Climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities, threatens livelihoods and influences existing conflicts.
Analysis: The military's ambitions dash Sudan's hopes for democracy... Who is to blame, and will the conflict end?
Opinions are divided about who is to blame for the current conflict in Sudan. Is it Al-Bashir for his reliance on armed groups? Or is it the civilian-military structure of the former Sudanese government that concentrated power in the hands of the military? Mother of the West, who failed to impose sanctions on Al-Burhan and Hamidti when they staged a coup against the civilian government in October 2021.
Can Guinea return to civilian rule amidst the ongoing anti-junta protests?
Protests in Guinea have turned into a tragic display of violence. Despite efforts to suppress them, anti-government demonstrations in the West African nation persist, leading to clashes with security forces. The people's frustration mounts as military leaders, responsible for ensuring a return to democratic rule, fall short of their promises. How many more lives will be lost before a viable solution is found for the country's turmoil?
Thor Olav Iversen
Thor Olav Iversen er utviklingsøkonom med rik erfaring fra arbeid med internasjonale spørsmål gjennom både forsking og praksis. Ved NUPI forsker h...