This book discusses issues of political intervention relating to the work of United Nation at mitigating clash and civilian war in East Africa. The discussion dwelt on the strategic work of United Nation (UN) to prevent incessant ethnic clash, gearing to global intervention. It looks into the greatest conflict in East Africa and its subsequent impact on religious, economic and global political clash. The study turns to study the case in East Africa and the strategic works carried by United Nation (UN) to end the conflicts in the Rwandan and Eritrean and Ethiopian border conflicts. The incessant conflicts and civil war had cause unprecedented and unfortunate strategic political move by the superpowers to intervene in the bloody conflicts of the region.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The Origin of International Intervention
III. UN Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia
IV. UN Intervention in Eritrean’s and Ethiopian’s Conflict
V. The Role of United Nations in Rwandan Crisis
VI. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the political intervention strategies of the United Nations in Africa, specifically focusing on its efforts to mitigate civil wars and ethnic conflicts. The study critically analyzes the effectiveness, challenges, and strategic outcomes of UN operations in Somalia, the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and the Rwandan crisis, aiming to evaluate the role of global powers in humanitarian interventions.
- Strategic analysis of United Nations interventionist policies in East Africa.
- Evaluation of UN peacekeeping and military enforcement in complex emergencies.
- Examination of the interplay between humanitarian aid and political objectives.
- Historical and political investigation of conflicts in Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Definitions
International intervention or interventionism is defined by Robert Higgs and Carl P. Close as “a term for a policy of non-defensive (proactive) activity undertaken by a nation-state, or other geo-political jurisdiction of a lesser or greater nature, to manipulate an economy or society.” (Robert Higgsand Carl P. Close, 2007). It is commonly applied in political term for “significant activity undertaken by a state to influence something not directly under its control.” Other significant application of the term does relate to economic interventionism (a state’s intervention in its own economy), and foreign interventionism (a state's intervention in the affairs of another nation as part of its foreign policy). The intervention of multi-state coalition and military operations is contrary to the concepts of anti-imperialism and self-determination and the presumption against intervention in another nation’s internal affairs. The common term for intervention mostly employed includes foreign intervention, humanitarian aid, peacekeeping process, conflict management, preventive diplomacy and political intervention. A comprehensive theoretical discussion on the term relating to international intervention is clarified below:
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Provides an overview of the issues surrounding political intervention by the UN in East Africa and the geopolitical motivations for such actions.
II. The Origin of International Intervention: Outlines the theoretical definitions, types, and historical context of international interventions, including military operations and peacebuilding efforts.
III. UN Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia: Critically analyzes the complex humanitarian and military intervention in the Somali civil war between 1991 and 1993 and the resulting challenges.
IV. UN Intervention in Eritrean’s and Ethiopian’s Conflict: Discusses the UN’s involvement in the long-standing border conflict, focusing on peacekeeping and boundary arbitration processes.
V. The Role of United Nations in Rwandan Crisis: Examines the UN's strategic response to the Rwandan genocide, investigating the limitations and consequences of the intervention.
VI. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings on the effectiveness of international intervention and the necessity for a more integrated diplomatic approach.
Keywords
United Nations, Humanitarian Intervention, Conflict Management, Peacekeeping, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Genocide, Military Intervention, International Relations, Sovereignty, Peacebuilding, Diplomacy, State-building
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
This book investigates the strategic role and effectiveness of the United Nations in intervening in civil wars and ethnic conflicts within East Africa, specifically focusing on Somalia, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, and Rwanda.
What are the core thematic areas?
The core themes include the definition and evolution of international intervention, the role of military versus humanitarian aid, the impact of UN policies on local sovereignty, and the challenges of managing complex political emergencies.
What is the central research question?
The work explores how UN intervention strategies either mitigated or exacerbated local conflicts and whether these actions successfully promoted lasting peace, stability, and human rights.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a qualitative case study approach, conducting a critical analysis of secondary sources, policy documents, UN resolutions, and scholarly literature to assess the outcomes of interventions.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body details the historical backgrounds of the conflicts, the specific humanitarian and military measures taken by the UN, the roles played by NGOs, and the subsequent analysis of these operations' successes and failures.
How would you describe the main keywords?
The keywords highlight the UN's interventionist nature, the specific geographical contexts of the studied conflicts, the concept of "humanitarian intervention," and the related challenges of post-conflict reconstruction and democracy promotion.
Why was the UN intervention in Somalia considered controversial?
The intervention in Somalia is often cited as a failure due to poor strategic planning, the high-handed military style that polarized the local population, and the lack of coordination with existing local institutions and NGOs.
What lesson does the book draw regarding the Rwandan genocide?
The book emphasizes that the failure to prevent the genocide stemmed from the lack of political will, "group-think" within the UN bureaucracy, and the refusal of major powers to risk their own troops to save lives, highlighting the inadequacy of early warning responses.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Ahmad Nabil Amir (Autor), 2021, Mitigating Clash. The UN Political Dictate in Africa, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/976217
