Description
The deployment of peace operations reflects the prevailing global power distribution, shaping their mandates, effectiveness, and challenges. This panel examines how unipolarity, bipolarity, and multipolarity influence peace operations through three case studies: the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia (1992–1995) during bipolarity’s decline, the U.S.-led Multinational Force in Iraq (2003–2009) under unipolarity, and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID, 2007–2020) in an emerging multipolar era. Each case highlights distinct dynamics in mission design, authority, and outcomes driven by the global power structure.
During bipolarity, UNPROFOR struggled with limited authority and Cold War rivalries, as competing U.S. and Soviet interests constrained effective intervention. In the unipolar era, the U.S.-dominated Iraq operation showcased unilateral power but faced legitimacy deficits and local resistance, undermining stabilization efforts. In the multipolar context, UNAMID’s hybrid model navigated competing influences from Western powers, China, and African states, balancing regional agency with global coordination but grappling with resource and mandate fragmentation.
This paper argues that power distributions shape peace operations’ strategic coherence and operational success. Unipolarity enables decisive action but risks overreach; bipolarity fosters stalemates through ideological divides; and multipolarity complicates coordination amid diverse state interests. By analyzing these cases, the panel elucidates how global power dynamics determine the scope, legitimacy, and impact of peace operations, offering insights for adapting future missions to an increasingly fragmented international system.
