Making War and Building Peace: What Future for the United Nations and Regional Peace Operations

Since the early 1990s, regional international organizations play an increasingly significant role in international affairs. As such, regional organizations have sought to involve in operations aiming to contribute to regional peace and stability. At the same time, coordination and cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in peace operations have become an essential part of the UN peace and security mechanism. Therefore, proper handling of the coordination of this kind becomes an important issue. After identifying the advantages and disadvantages of peace operations conducted by regional organizations, the chapter argues that while the regionalization of peacekeeping operations may not always and everywhere produce desirable outcomes, regional organizations still have the potential to play a more constructive role in strengthening international peace efforts. Given the persistence of a capabilities–expectations gap in various types of UN peace operations, the regional option should not be overlooked. By sharing some of the responsibilities for maintenance of international peace and security with regional organizations, the UN may be able to fulfill its core duties more effectively.