The Political Economy of Civil War and UN Peace Operations

"This book examines the operational and political challenges facing UN peace operations deployed in countries where civil war and protracted violence have given rise to the complex and distinctive political economies of conflict. The volume explores the nature and impact of such political economies - informal systems of power and influence formed by the interaction of local, national, and region-wide war economies with the political agendas of conflict actors - on the course of UN peace operations. It focuses in detail on the UN's long-running peace operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Somalia. The book is centrally concerned with the interaction of UN missions with the power structures and local conflict dynamics that shape individual mission settings, and the challenges these pose for mediation, protection of civilians, and other tasks. It also offers a critical assessment of the various ways in which the UN 'system', from its headquarters in New York to the field, has confronted the policy challenges posed by political economies of conflict-affected states, societies, and regions. It advances a pragmatic set of policy recommendations aimed at improving the UN's ability to confront predatory and exploitative war economies. At the same time, the volume makes it clear that political and institutional obstacles to more effective UN action are certain to remain profound and are unlikely ever to be fully overcome let alone eradicated. Despite making some progress since the 1990s to better understand the political economy of civil wars, the UN has struggled with how to tackle informal networks of power and their consequences for efforts to end wars. The book will be of special interest to students of war and conflict studies, statebuilding, political economy of conflict, UN interventionism and peacebuilding, and IR/Security in general"-- Provided by publisher Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Tables Notes on Contributors Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1 The Political Economy of Civil War and UN Peace Operations Introduction Political Economy Analysis of War and Conflict: Strengths and Limitations UN Peace Operations and the Political Economy of Intrastate Conflict Understanding the Sources of Violence and Armed Group Behaviour Engaging With Non-State Forms Governance The Transnational and Networked Characteristics of Political Economies of Conflict Questioning the Assumptions Underlying the UN’s Approach to Peace Operations Engaging With the Political Economy of Conflicts: Challenges Confronting the UN Politics Among Member States Bureaucratic Fragmentation and the Siloing of Politics Political, Analytical and Moral Complexities Notes Bibliography Part I Conceptual and Thematic Issues 2 The Importance of Political Economy Recognising the Impact of Economic Forces The Interaction of Political and Economic Motivations in Conflict Mapping the Impact of Peace Operations On the Political Economy of Conflict Rethinking UN Peace Operations Taking Account of Transnational Forces and Context in Shaping Strategy Conclusion Notes Bibliography 3 Operationalising the “Primacy of Politics” in UN Peace Operations: Implications of Political Economy Analysis UN Peace Operations and the Centrality of Mediation Weakly Structured, Incohesive and Fragmented Belligerents Weak, Failing and Spurious Agreements Peace Operations Caught in Spirals of Violence Beyond Agreements – Expanding the Scope of the Primacy of Politics Engaging at Multiple Levels of Conflict Investing in the Stability and Inclusivity of State Institutions The Politics of Protecting Civilians Re-imagining Civil Society Dialogue The Peace Operations, Peace Processes and the Limits of Mediation Notes Bibliography 4 Engaging With Political Elites and Non-State Armed Groups: A Mission Perspective The Conjuror’s Art Spoilers and Survivors: Conflict Actors and the Political Economy The Challenges of the Political Economy: Framing UN Policy Responses Spectators and Players: Aligning UN Peace Operations and the Political Economy Interventions in the Political Economy: Possibilities and Predicaments The National Perspective Acting Locally The Regional Dimension The Limits of Intervention Rising to the Challenges: Strategies, Structures and Staffing Conclusion: Liberating the Political Economy Notes Bibliography 5 UN Sanctions, Panels of Experts and the Political Economy of Intrastate Conflict UN Sanctions: Mechanisms to Influence the Political Economy of Conflict Panels of Experts: Mandates, Composition, Working Methods and Reporting Cooperation Between Panels of Experts and Peace Operations Assessment of UN Sanctions and Panels of Experts Obstacles to Influencing the Political Economy of Intrastate Conflict War Economies, Corruption and Member States Security Council Politics and Practice UN Institutional Factors Conclusion Notes Bibliography 6 What Role for Business Actors in UN Peace Operations? The Definitional Challenge: What Or Who Are “Business Actors”? A Framework for Understanding the Roles of Business Actors in UN Peace Operations Enabling UN Peace Operations to Include Business in Peace Conclusion Notes Bibliography 7 Commodities, Commanders and Corruption: Political Economy in the Evolving Tradecraft of Intelligence and Analysis in UN Peace Operations Introduction: Why Peace Operations Need Political Economy Analysis Political Economy in the Evolving Intelligence Tradecraft of UN Peace Operations Joint Mission Analysis Centres Sanctions Panels and Groups of Experts Information Management and Analysis Technologies Member State-Linked Intelligence Capabilities Local Engagement for Protection, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Global and Regional Trend Analysis Political Economy Analysis in the Decision-Making Cycles of Peace Operations Conclusion: The Future of Political Economy Analysis in Peacekeeping Notes Bibliography 8 Confronting Illicit Economies and Criminal Threats IN UN Missions: Operating in the “Grey Zone” Introduction Tackling Organised Crime: A Growing, Yet Fragmented Response By Peacekeeping Same Objective, Different Reach: UN Sanctions’ Focus On “The Illicit” in Conflict Zones UN Peacekeeping and Sanctions in Criminalised Conflict Economies: Insights From CAR, DRC and Mali The “Grey Zone”: Conceptual Challenges Engaging With the Grey Zone: Political Challenges Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part II Selected Case Studies 9 The UN and the Logic of Congo’s Political Economy: Politics Is Wealth, Wealth Is Power Introduction The End of Mobutu’s Kleptocratic State Economy and the Rise of the War Economy (1990–1997) MONUC, Privatisation and the Transitional Economy (1997–2006) MONUSCO and the Transnational Extractive Economy (2006–2011) The Consolidation of Kabila’s Economic Power and UN Inaction (2011–2018) Conclusions and Lessons for Peace Operations Notes Bibliography 10 The Unbuilding of a State: UNMISS’s Role in the Lead Up to South Sudan’s Civil War Introduction South Sudan’s Governance System: A Brief History The War Years (1983–2005) The Post-War Years (2005–2011) The Making of UNMISS The Unmaking of South Sudan Implications for State-Building and UN Peace Operations Timing of Interventions Reimagining “The Local” Resilience Revisited Notes Bibliography 11 UNAMA Amidst Counter-Terror and Counterinsurgency: No Peace Left to Keep Introduction UNAMA’s Inception and Early Years UNAMA Amid the Surge Good Governance Re-Examined Notes Bibliography 12 UNAMSIL and the Political Economy of War in Sierra Leone: What Is the Price of Peace? Introduction The Sierra Leone Civil War UNAMSIL: A Faltering Start Coming Back From the Brink UNAMSIL Reformed: From Embarrassment to “Model” Mission Military Interventions and RUF Reversals The Regional Approach: Diamonds and Diplomacy Conclusion Notes Bibliography 13 MINUSMA and the Political Economy of Mali’s Crises The Major Political Economy Dimensions of Mali’s Crises State Construction, Elite Bargains, Corruption and Poor Governance Illicit Trafficking and the Economic Governance of Non-State Armed Groups Agropastoral Conflicts Grow Deadlier in Central Mali How the UN Has Attempted to Analyse And, in Some Cases, Respond to These Challenges Where Is MINUSMA’s Political Economy Unit? The Inherent Limits of MINUSMA’s Capacity-Building Approaches MINUSMA’s Good Offices With Not So Good Guys MINUSMA’s Experiment With Local Mediation in Central Mali The Limitations of the MINUSMA’s Community-Based Projects Targeting Traffickers: The UN Sanctions Regime for Mali The Joint Force G5 Sahel and Transnational Crime How the Mission Became Part of the Political Economy MINUSMA’s Political Economy Blind Spot and Limited Due Diligence Planning for Mission Transition: Political Economy Is Still an Afterthought Conclusion: What Can UN Peace Operations Like MINUSMA Really Do About Political Economy? Notes Bibliography 14 The Political Economy of Peace Operations in Somalia Introduction Background Recent History The Somali Political and Socio-Economic Context Political Economy of the UNOSOM Operation (1992–1995) The Civil War Political Economy UNITAF and UNOSOM II Post-UNOSOM Political Economy Political Economy of the AMISOM Mission (2007–2022) AMISOM’s Internal Political Economy The Political Economy of AMISOM’s Main Base The Political Economy of Training and Equipping AMISOM The Political Economy of Financing the Somali Security Sector The Political Economy of UN Procurement Contracts and Political Analysis The Wider Somali Political Economy in the AMISOM Era Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part III Conclusions 15 Adopting a Political Economy Lens: Policy Implications for UN Peace Operations Ensure That Political Strategies Are Grounded in the Political Economy of Armed Conflict Complement National Political Solutions With Local Mediation Proactively Address the Motives of Violence to Protect Civilians Acknowledge the Limits of Institutional Reform – But Seize Opportunities Where They Exist Develop Analytic Capacity to Understand War Economies Strengthen Risk Management to Mitigate the UN’s Role in War Economies Ensure Sanctions Regimes and Peace Operations Are Mutually Reinforcing Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index This book examines the operational and political challenges facing UN peace operations deployed in countries where civil war and protracted violence have given rise to complex and distinctive political economies of conflict.The volume explores the nature Political,Economy;,Civil,War;,UN,Peace,Operations;,UN,Sanctions;,Intrastate,Conflict;,Business,Actors;,Corruption;,Intelligence;,Illicit,Economies;,â••Grey,Zoneâ•• Political Economy,Civil War,UN Peace Operations,UN Sanctions,Intrastate Conflict,Business Actors,Corruption,Intelligence,Illicit Economies,“Grey Zone”