Why Peacekeeping Fails

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 1-35

3. A Brief History of UN Peacekeeping

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 37-57

4. Failing Before Beginning

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 59-93

5. Failing While Doing

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 95-115

6. Angola and Mozambique: Similar Histories, Different Outcomes

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 117-183

7. The Real Reasons Peacekeeping Fails

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 185-233

8. Humanitarian Aid and the Failure of Peacekeeping

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 235-250

9. Getting Out and Afterward

   • Dennis C. Jett

   Pages 251-271

10. “Inconclusion”: Why Real Reform Might Not Be Possible

    • Dennis C. Jett

    Pages 273-297

11. Back Matter

    Pages 299-326

    PDF

In this thoroughly revised edition of his bestselling 1999 volume Why Peacekeeping Fails, Dennis Jett explains why peacekeepers today are dying in record numbers while engaged in operations that either are bound to fail or make little contribution to peace. The original book compared a wide range of peacekeeping experiences, including the unsuccessful attempt at peacekeeping in Angola with the successful effort in Mozambique in the early 1990’s, to argue for the importance of peacekeeping and suggest ways to improve its chances for success. Nearly two decades later, the number of UN peacekeepers has risen to 100,000 from 15,000; and yet, after years of expansion, support for peacekeeping seems to be diminishing. This thoroughly revised and updated 20^th anniversary edition—half of which is completely new material—provides a timely update to Jett’s previous volume, examining why the dramatic growth in peacekeeping has occurred, how it is now being used, and why the challenges peacekeepers face cannot be dealt with alone. Also considering the impact of terrorism on both recent and longstanding peacekeeping operations, this book will assess the prospects of peacekeeping in an era in which the United States seems to be withdrawing from the world. 

 

• peacekeeping operations
• Peacekeeping reform
• Peacekeeping
• peace
• international relations
• Mozambique peacekeeping
• Angola peacekeeping
• Liberia peacekeeping
• conflict resolution
• violent extremism
• Rwanda peacekeeping
• Mali peacekeeping
• Chad peacekeeping
• Sudan peacekeeping
• South Sudan peacekeeping
• Western Sahara peacekeeping
• Israel peacekeeping
• Lebanon peacekeeping
• Preventative diplomacy
• Protective engagement

“Brilliant. This book should be required reading at the UN Security Council and in other international organizations.” (Richard Butler, former Australian Ambassador to the UN)

“Why Peacekeeping Fails, which began to take shape in the first-hand experiences of an American ambassador who witnessed brutal conflicts in Africa, has grown into the classic account of the United Nations' ever-evolving global peacekeeping role over decades. Rich in institutional history, it  also never loses sight of the besieged people UN missions aim to save, often with mixed results.” (Barbara Crossette, a former New York Times UN bureau chief, is a contributing editor to PassBlue.com, an independent news site covering the UN)

“Dennis Jett has provided the expert or the student sharp analysis based on deep experience of a very difficult and complex, but necessary phenomenon, UN peace operations.” (Dan Simpson, ex-U.S. Ambassador to the Central African Republic, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist)

“In this lucid, compact volume, former Ambassador Dennis Jett illuminates the usually messy, problematic, and too often unsuccessful world of international peacekeeping. Through careful scholarship, Jett examines specific cases of mainly UN peacekeeping since 1948, and shows the structural and contextual reasons why peacekeeping at best has a spotty record. A critical book for those wanting to look beyond conventional wisdom at the politics of efforts to create and preserve international order through peacekeeping forces.” (Richard K. Scher, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of Florida)

“Dr. Jett is one of very few political scientists who have excelled as both policymaker and academic analyst. This book provides a much-needed revision of his earlier, significant work, delving into cases in which Ambassador Jett was directly involved when he was a Foreign Service Officer (Mozambique and Angola) and analyzing additional cases that have emerged since its original publication.” (Dan Caldwell, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Pepperdine University, USA)

“I have encountered peacekeeping operations throughout the Middle East. Most, like UNIFIL, were organized by the UN but the MFO was organized by the United States. Dennis Jett has produced a well-researched and very readable survey of peacekeeping operations around the world. This book, in my opinion, should have a place on the required reading list of any university course that focuses on peacekeeping, the UN and other international organizations or conflict management and prevention.” (David Dunford, Former Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Adjunct Instructor at the School of Government and Public Policy, University of Arizona, USA)

 

 

• School of International Affairs, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA

  Dennis C. Jett

Dennis C. Jett is a Professor and founding faculty member at the School of International Affairs at Pennsylvania State University, USA. A former career diplomat, he served 28 years in the State Department in a wide range of positions including as Ambassador to Peru and Mozambique and on the National Security Council. He is the author of four books published by Palgrave Macmillan: Why Peacekeeping Fails, Why American Foreign Policy Fails, American Ambassadors and most recently, The Iran Nuclear Deal. 

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