Peacekeeping: Emerging Patterns 1990-1996

Sammanfattning av Andreas Anderssons artikel i KKrVAHT nr 2 1999.

This essay by Andreas Andersson discusses the question "International operations - a means for Swedish security policy?". In doing so, the essay examines the impact of democracy on the incidence of state participation in UN-authorised operations. In contrast to the existing case studies, this essay utilises simple statistical techniques to reveal the association between the level of democracy and its impact on states' propensity to engage in peacekeeping. By applying rigour and consistency to a large amount of cases, the scientific requirements of validity and reliability of the findings are met. The essay emphasises the fact that among the substantial contributors, democracies show the greatest propensity to participate in peacekeeping operations. Further, among the states in conflict, the non-democratic states receive a disproportionately large amount of operations. Another intriguing observation is the fact that despite constituting a minority among the intra-state conflicts, the conflicts over the incompatibility "government" attract most of the initiated operations. The essay suggests that democracies, in particular Sweden, can use peace support operations as a vehicle to promote the proliferation of democracy and thereby enhance the long-term prospect for peace. Furthermore, peace support operations may well be the chief Swedish contribution to the emerging security-construction in the Baltic Sea region. Consequently, the imperative for a Swedish involvement in peace support operations should be viewed in the context of promoting peace and security at a regional as well as global level.

Denna artikel belönades av Akademien vid högtidssammankomsten i november 1998.