Peacebuilding operations are organizational structures in emergency
environments or post-conflict areas working to restore and maintain stable
peace. The specificity of the geographical or political instability makes it
necessary for these entities to count on with technical security departments
in charge of securing the well-being of staff members and protecting
programs and assets. To effectively perform these tasks, mission internal
security departments produce a set of security regulations comprised in three
different operational blocks: security plans, security standard operation
procedures and contingency plans, and risk and threat assessments. These
norms are then communicated, trained on, and enforced to all mission staff
members.
Often staff members in peacebuilding missions disregard security
regulations, either conscious or unconsciously, causing secondary negative
effects on mission's operations, perceptions, and relations, and slow down or
even stop programs. Often, as well, technical security departments
employ a larger amount of time to enforcement than required due to lack of
compliance with security policy.
The aim of this study is to present a set of methodologies at the
operational, perceptual, and relational level that implemented and
coordinated by missions' technical security departments could positively
support and enhance missions' performance in security and safety, but
extrapolated to peacebuilding activities and mandate objectives.
It is understood and explained that security regulations can affect the
interoperability of a mission, in the sense that it can slow down and restrict
programs, especially in high risk environments. Therefore, the focus is
placed in peacebuilding operations with a moderate risk level, defined in the
United Nations language as Security Phases one and two.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Technical Security in Peacebuilding Missions
2.1 Introduction
2.2 History
2.3 From Baghdad to Algiers
2.4 Present and Future
Chapter 3 Conflict Avoidance Positive Methodologies
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Qualitative Flexibility
3.3 Professional Experience and Positive Attitude
3.4 Exposing the Negative to Reach the Positive
3.5 Qualitative Combination
3.6 Potential Challenges
Chapter 4 Mission's Practical Security Methodology
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Enriching Security Departments
4.2.1 Promoting Personnel Participation in Security
4.2.2 Setting-up Interactive Training
4.2.3 Change Security Image
4.2.4 Humour
4.2.5 Approach and Outreach
4.2.6 Applying Flexibility without Compromising Security
Chapter 5 Towards Conflict-free Mission Environment
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Better Internal Coordination
5.3 Managerial-Political Support
5.4 Everybody's Business
Chapter 6 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary aim of this study is to propose a set of operational, perceptual, and relational methodologies for technical security departments within peacebuilding missions. By implementing these coordinated approaches, security departments can transition from being perceived as barriers to being active facilitators of mission effectiveness and personnel safety in high-risk environments.
- Enhancement of mission security through personnel participation.
- Transformation of the internal security culture and image.
- Application of interactive training and outreach techniques.
- Balancing security rigour with operational flexibility.
- Fostering a conflict-free, collaborative mission environment.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2.1 Promoting Personnel Participation in Security
Personnel participation promotion refers to the process and actions that permit affected staff members to have a voice, be part of decision making processes, and take activeness inside their working environment (UNESCO 2009: 2). Promoting personnel participation in security refers to the non-security personnel working in peacebuilding missions, regardless of being programmatic or technical personnel. The participation proposed would be in different areas of security management, to a previously agreed level and areas, but mainly focusing on security tasks and internal security policy development.
The involvement of non-security related staff members in security tasks and internal security policy development guarantees broader participation from technically inexperienced individuals and groups working in the same organization. These staff members form a relevant part of the mission that might not have ever participated in such tasks but certainly have been affected by them. Regrouping all staff and promoting participation in collective ways of manifestation will profit the outcome and benefit the longer term mission stability, and perhaps, contribute to internal conflict avoidance. The staff participation is a way of promoting security awareness, and as Spurling states in his article, “security awareness promotion as part of the overall organization, its culture, philosophy and vision (1995: 20).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Provides the foundational definitions of security and risk management and introduces the scope of the study within peacebuilding contexts.
Chapter 2: Reviews the evolution and historical context of UN security management, focusing on key challenges and landmark reports post-Baghdad and Algiers.
Chapter 3: Outlines the qualitative research methodology and the philosophical shift toward positive, conflict-avoidance approaches in security management.
Chapter 4: Details practical methodologies for security departments, including personnel participation, interactive training, and the use of humour to change security image.
Chapter 5: Discusses the requirements for achieving a conflict-free environment, emphasizing internal coordination and managerial-political support.
Chapter 6: Summarizes the study’s findings, consolidating the proposed methodologies into a cohesive framework for enhanced peacebuilding effectiveness.
Keywords
Peacebuilding, Technical Security, Security Culture, Risk Management, Mission Effectiveness, Personnel Participation, Conflict Avoidance, Security Methodology, Interactive Training, Organizational Security, Operational Flexibility, Security Image, Institutional Accountability, Outreach, Conflict-free Environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the intersection of technical security departments and overall peacebuilding effectiveness, specifically how security regulations can be implemented to support rather than hinder mission objectives.
What are the central thematic areas?
The study centers on three levels of intervention: operational participation, perceptual change of security images, and relational outreach techniques.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The goal is to propose methodologies that enable security departments to foster a "culture of security" where all staff feel involved and protected, thereby reducing internal friction.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a qualitative research methodology, drawing upon the researcher's professional experience and theoretical frameworks from peacebuilding and conflict studies.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers historical developments in UN security, the introduction of positive conflict avoidance techniques, and specific strategies like interactive training and the integration of humour.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Peacebuilding, Technical Security, Security Culture, Risk Management, and Mission Effectiveness.
How does humour play a role in this security framework?
Humour is proposed as a tool to humanize the image of security departments, challenge apathy, and encourage critical reflection among non-security personnel.
Why is "flexibility" important in security contexts?
Flexibility is essential to ensure that security measures remain adaptable to changing circumstances without compromising the safety standards of the mission.
What is the role of personnel participation in this model?
Participation allows non-security staff to have a voice in policy development and operational tasks, which increases their buy-in and overall compliance with security regulations.
- Quote paper
- Roberto Santamarta-Perez (Author), 2012, Peace Missions' Technical Security: Towards a Security Culture for Enhanced Peacebuilding Effectiveness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263035
