While peace operations have long been a source of consensus among UN Member States, they are now being undermined by rising international tensions. In Rivalries for Peace, Arthur Boutellis analyses the new power dynamics within the organisation, from its New York headquarters to its missions in the field. While the appointment of heads of mission and special envoys has become a major political issue, largely influenced by the competing ambitions and strategies of global and regional powers, other power dynamics are at play on the ground: the weight of troop-contributing countries, the growing influence of host states, and the presence of parallel groups or forces that are redefining the scope of action of peacekeepers. The book shows how the general hardening of international relations produces both winners and losers, but above all undermines the legitimacy and effectiveness of peace operations. These could become less impartial and less suited to future conflicts, at the risk of permanently affecting the UN's ability to maintain peace.
Arthur Boutellis holds a PhD in political science and is an independent consultant and senior non-resident adviser at the International Peace Institute (IPI), where he headed the Brian Urquhart Centre for Peace Operations. A recognised United Nations expert, he has worked for some fifteen years in peace operations – notably in Mali during the 2014-2015 negotiations – as well as with NGOs in the Middle East. He teaches at Columbia University in New York and Sciences Po Paris. Educated in the United States (Princeton) and France (Panthéon-Assas University), Arthur Boutellis is also an auditor at the 72nde IHEDN national session.
