Peacekeeping

Keeping the peace on a worldwide scale is nearly impossible, as such there are many aspects to peacekeeping. It is a process that requires many steps including preventive diplomacy, peace enforcement, peacemaking, peace building, and peacekeeping.

Preventive diplomacy is third-party efforts to prevent small disputes turning into violence. A great example of preventive diplomacy was the US intervention in the North Korean nuclear program. Former President Jimmy Carter was sent to diffuse what looked like a dangerous situation. North Korea had been researching nuclear technology and because of poor past relations and their isolationist policies, the US feared they would turn aggressive. The US offered two power generating nuclear reactors, and some oil, along with reaching out diplomatically and trying to stimulate trade between the US and North Korea. Also the US reaffirmed their role as an ally to South Korea. Between these two actions the situation in North Korea has been diffused.

Peace enforcement is a third-party using force to place a cease-fire on two warring states. In Somalia a UN peace enforcement mission was led by the US. Operation Restore Hope was supposed to bring an end to the civil war brought about by widespread famine. Warlord Mohammed Aidid was one of the biggest causes of the war, his clan was holding aid shipments from getting to the people and using the food to gain support. The UN hoped to capture Aidid and bring stability to the civil government. Although relatively low casualties were suffered throughout the campaign it became highly unpopular and is viewed by many as a failure.

Peacemaking is much like peace enforcement without the use of force. A third party tries to get to states to sign a cease-fire and stick to it. Peace making was tried out in Bosnia by the UN. Slobodan Milosevic was a Serbian national and leader of the communist party. He was president during the civil war in the 90's. He signed the Dayton Accords in 1995 supposedly ending the conflict. The UN believed the situation resolved and left in place the lightly armed civilian aid unit UNIPROF. Peacemaking can go wrong if either one of the sides feels that the third party is biased.

Peace building is