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Peacekeeping Outside the UN
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe was created, in 1973 as Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a forum for dialogue between the East and West hemispheres aimed at reducing tensions in Europe. It operates under the guidance of the chapter VIII of the UN Charter, and impacts regional agreements and blocs. With the end of the Cold War, its mission morphed into a security role based three pillars or dimensions: i) politico-military; ii) economic and environmental; and iii) human. The three pillars are defined by 1990’s Charter of Paris and are aimed at encompassing all the dimensions that the organization deems important for the development and preservation of security in the countries in which it acts.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization emerged out of the Cold War as a deterrence mechanism to keep the Soviet Union in check. The deployment of troops under NATO banner served to demonstrate the American commitment to the defense of Europe. Over time its mission has changed to include efforts on peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Its region of engagement also changed with the conflict in Afghanistan, as NATO deployed forces outside Europe for the first time in its history. NATO is still evolving its new strategic concept and responsibilities, which increasingly focus on peacebuilding.
The European Union developed also a peacekeeping capability and is currently involved in six engagements of different severity. All of the six missions were formed after 2005 and the one is aimed at border control between Ukraine and Moldova. There are also missions deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan which deal basically with police work. The European mission extent itself to Africa as well, acting in some of the former colonies of European countries. In overview, the military strategy of the European Union is focused in multilateral actions and cooperation with the domestic actors.
The African Union is involved in peacekeeping operations in the region of Darfur and in Somalia. Both those missions emerged from the needs and mandate put forward by the United Nations Security Council. Afterwards the mission in Sudan was assimilated by the UN mission on the region. The African Union actions represent regional initiatives under chapter VIII of the UN Charter and sanctioned by it.
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