The Imperative of Active Peacekeeping: Moving Beyond Bystandership

The article, The world needs blue helmets who act as blue helmets by Hermanprit Singh is about the importance of peacekeeping and the failure of it. In an increasingly complex world marked by escalating conflicts, the words of Holocaust historian Yehuda Bauer ring with profound relevance: "Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander." This principle, when applied to international peacekeeping, challenges us to reconsider the role of the United Nations and its blue helmets in global conflict resolution.

The UN's peacekeeping operations, established through Chapter VI and VII of its Charter, were designed to be a powerful force for maintaining international peace and security. With over 1,000,000 peacekeepers deployed throughout its history, the UN has achieved notable successes in places like Cambodia, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone. However, the organisation now stands at a critical crossroads, where its effectiveness in preventing civilian casualties and maintaining peace is being severely tested.

Recent events in Ukraine, Gaza, and West Asia highlight a troubling pattern: the UN's transition from "enforceable peacekeeping" to what might be termed as "bystander status." This shift comes at a time when the world desperately needs more decisive action, not less. The presence of 1,000,000 UN uniformed forces deployed across various missions should represent a formidable force for peace, yet their impact is often limited by institutional constraints and political hesitation.

The case for reform is compelling and urgent. The current structure of the Security Council, with its veto power concentrated among the P5 members, has often served as a stumbling block rather than a stepping stone to peace. The world has witnessed this paralysis most tragically in instances like the Rwanda genocide of 1994-95, where the international community's response was fatally delayed by political deadlock.

A two-pronged approach to reform emerges as a potential solution. First, expanding the Permanent Security Council membership to include nations like India and South Africa would bring more diverse perspectives and a more representative global voice to peacekeeping decisions. Second, and perhaps more crucially, reforming the veto system could prevent single-nation blockades of crucial peacekeeping missions.

The blue helmets of the UN must evolve from being mere observers to becoming active guardians of peace. This transformation requires not just structural reforms but a fundamental shift in how we conceptualise international intervention. When civilian lives are at stake, the international community cannot afford to be bystanders. The UN's peacekeeping forces must be empowered to act decisively, with clear mandates and the necessary resources to fulfil their mission of protecting civilian lives.

The world needs blue helmets who truly act as blue helmets – not as passive observers but as active protectors of peace and civilian life. This requires both institutional reform and a renewed commitment to the fundamental principles of peacekeeping. As we face increasingly complex global challenges, the international community must move beyond the role of bystander and embrace a more active, decisive approach to maintaining peace and protecting vulnerable populations.

The world needs blue helmets who act as blue helmets by Hermanprit Singh. In The Hindu, 23 October 2024.

The choice before us is clear: we can either continue with a system that too often reduces peacekeepers to onlookers, or we can embrace reform and empower the UN to fulfill its original mandate as a force for peace and protection. The costs of inaction – measured in human lives and regional stability – are simply too high to accept the status quo.

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