Peacekeeping has come a long way since its early origins and has grown conceptually to include performance of both military and non-military functions during the course of peace support operations.  While peacekeeping forces have had successes in terms of mediating and implementing peace agreements, their inability to sustain lasting peace has been a cause for concern and criticism. In the 1990s the UN’s failure to prevent violent episodes in Angola and Rwanda and its inability to avoid ‘relapses’ in other post-conflict zones affected its image as an effective and credible force and necessitated self-reflection and internal change. The nature of peacekeeping underwent a transformation, as did the mandate of peacekeeping forces. The world recognised peacekeeping to be a dynamic concept requiring continuous expansion and evolution with time. Simultaneously, there was also a realisation that peacekeeping was only an enabler of peace and security and not a final solution to violence and conflict. For durable peace, transformation of social, economic and political institutions would be required and root causes of conflict – which could range from cultural and ethnic hatred to a race for valuable resources – would have to be addressed.

Thus evolved the idea and need for peacebuilding which is an attempt at setting long-term goals, bolstering political and financial commitments to agendas having long gestation periods and contributing to the development of a civil society where human rights, dignity of life and basic needs are attainable. Peacebuilding is founded upon a realisation that there needs to be a cohesive effort by all interested parties to develop economic and social structures and remove hatred and fear from the minds of those affected by violence. The process also commits itself to the establishment of the rule of law since without a fair, impartial and effective mechanism of justice, society would retain the scars of the past and be rendered helpless and vulnerable to newer injustices.

With the Peacebuilding Commission having been set up in 2006 by the UN, the task of planning and strategising policies, resource gathering and resource allocation, building regional cooperation, reviewing progress and recovery goals and importantly extending the period of political attention and political commitment in conflict-recovery zones will receive focused attention. The commission will also look into sufficient and sustained funding and inclusion of best practices.

What may be derived from the above is a need for maintaining a continuum between peacekeeping and peacebuilding during the long process of attaining human security. Human security is pivotal to both long-term and short-term strategies of a peace operation. The UNDP report defines human security as ‘safety from chronic threats and protection from sudden hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life,’ and identifies seven categories of threats: poverty, hunger, disease, pollution and environmental degradation, violence, cultural and political repression. The challenge lies in the creation of a mandate for peacekeeping and peacebuilding that will incorporate these factors into the respective mission strategies despite the differences that exist in their timeframes and primary functions. 

In order to achieve these tasks, a sustained effort to peacefully manage the interests of different groups, focus on cooperation and dialogue, systematise justice delivery mechanisms, initiate reconstruction programmes, bring constitutional reforms and address structural causes of conflict is required. Priority will have to be given to sound micro and macro economic policies, re-establishment of commercial ties and trade links and provision of adequate employment opportunities. The role of civil society in reconciliation, fostering of forgiveness and inner healing cannot be underemphasised either.

It is only with clear and coherent mandates, sound transition strategies and a multi-pronged approach that the twin efforts of peacekeeping and peacebuilding will result in creation of durable and sustainable peace.