The Politics of Consent in United Nations Peace Operations

My research explores a key challenge in United Nations (UN) peace operations: maintaining reliable consent from host countries. Consent from the host government is crucial for the UN to operate effectively, but this support often fluctuates. Some countries initially welcome UN missions but later restrict their activities or withdraw consent, which can disrupt peace efforts and force missions to scale back or even close.

To address this, my project examines why host-state consent changes over time, the factors that influence this consent, and how the UN can respond to maintain cooperation. Focusing on three UN missions—in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic—I aim to answer three main questions: (1) How can we define and measure consent in peace operations? (2) What factors impact the reliability of host-state consent? (3) How does the UN adapt when consent weakens?

Understanding these dynamics is vital for improving UN peacekeeping effectiveness. By examining the factors that drive consent, this research can inform strategies to build stronger partnerships with host countries, ultimately leading to more effective, stable peace operations that better serve civilian populations.

Faculty Supervisor:

Katharina Coleman

Student:

Partner:

Osaka University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: