The Ontology of Violence: United Nations Peacekeeping Response to Mass Atrocity Violence in Sudan and South Sudan
Date
2023-11-24
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Abstract
This research identifies significant shortcomings related to the United Nations (UN) conceptualizations of violence. It is based on the starting hypothesis that the UN’s ineffectiveness in stabilizing conflicts is partly due to an inadequate consideration of specific forms of violence. The primary research question that this dissertation answers is: What approach has the UN taken to ensure that responding to violence is a strategic priority in peacekeeping missions? A secondary question is: Are there opportunities for the UN to better incorporate understandings of violence into peacekeeping to potentially improve the efficacy of the missions? The three cases this research explores are the three separate peacekeeping missions within the greater Sudan: the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to address the violence between Sudan and southern Sudan, the UN and African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to address conflict in the west of Sudan, and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to assist in solidifying peace after South Sudan declared independence. I analyze how the UN considers violence in peacekeeping missions through my cases. This research demonstrates that forms of violence are significant enough that the UN should actively consider them in the makeup of its mission. The forms examined in this dissertation are communal violence, conflict-related sexual violence, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The research demonstrated that throughout history, these forms of violence have been widespread and have continued throughout the conflict. The commission of these forms of violence destabilizes the region, thus making the work of the UN more challenging. The findings of this dissertation offer insights into how missions could improve.
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Sudan, South Sudan, Darfur, violence, United Nations, peacekeeping, communal violence, conflict-related sexual violence, child soldiers
Citation
Winger, S. M. (2023). The ontology of violence: United Nations peacekeeping response to mass atrocity violence in Sudan and South Sudan (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.