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United Nations intervention and recurring conflict

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

Paul F. Diehl
Affiliation:
Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jennifer Reifschneider
Affiliation:
International Marketing Representative for the State of Illinois, Department of Agriculture.
Paul R. Hensel
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Florida State University.
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Abstract

The end of the cold war has signaled a dramatic increase in the number and forms of United Nations (UN) intervention into ongoing conflicts. Yet, this larger UN role has not always translated into success. Short-term failures are evident, but the long-term effects of UN efforts are not readily apparent. We explore this longer-term impact by examining the incidence of recurring conflict between state dyads following a crisis. Overall, UN intervention has proved ineffective in inhibiting, delaying, or lessening the severity of future conflicts, independent of the level of violence in the precipitating crisis, the relative capabilities of the two states, the states' history of conflict, and the form of crisis outcome; nor were UN efforts successful in deterring future conflict. These sobering results suggest that changes in long-term strategy may be in order.

Type
Research note
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 1996

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