The Inside Story of UN Peace Operations

The International Peace Institute recently held a panel discussion to launch a new book series, the “IPI Histories of UN Peace Operations.” Initiated by the UN Departments of Political Affairs and Peacekeeping Operations, this series aims to fill a critical gap in institutional knowledge in the field of peacekeeping.

For all the academic literature on the topic, the “inside stories” of UN peace operations seldom get told. This series seeks to change that. The books will provide readable accounts of the key decisions made in each featured operation.

The authors of the first three books in the series were on hand for the discussion at IPI’s Trygve Lie Center: ‘Funmi Olonisakin (Peacekeeping in Sierra Leone), William Stanley (Enabling Peace in Guatemala: The Story of MINUGUA), and Tatiana Carayannis (Pioneers of Peacekeeping: The Story of the UN Operation in the Congo) each spoke on the importance of telling the “in the field” experiences of both peacekeepers and locals.

Moderated by IPI Vice President and Director of External Relations Warren Hoge, the well-attended event made evident the distinct parallels between the challenges confronted by three very different missions, highlighting the benefits of improved historical knowledge about decision-making during UN peace operations.

For more information on the series and introductions to the first three titles in the series click here. ‘Funmi Olonisakin’s Peacekeeping in Sierra Leone is available for purchase here.

Chair:
Warren Hoge, Vice President and Director of External Relations, IPI

Speakers:
Michéle Griffin, Senior Political Affairs Officer, Policy Planning and Mediation Support, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Funmi Olonisakin, Director, Conflict Security and Development Group, King’s College London
William Stanley, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of New Mexico
Tatiana Carayannis, Associate Director, Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum