Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 75 Years of the United Nations Special Issue, 2020
By Lynn Greiner
Given the United Nations mandate to maintain international peace and security, the question of the relevance of peacekeeping missions seems ironic. That is, after all, what the UN and its members are all about, according to the organization’s charter.
Chapters VI and VII (articles 33–51) speak in detail about resolution of disputes and reactions to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, and acts of aggression. Chapter VIII talks about regional arrangements or agencies that may also do peacekeeping. Yet the function has changed somewhat over the years.
Lynn Greiner is a freelance writer who has covered technology, history, business, and many other areas for more than 20 years.