by Jake Sherman
First published 2023
UN peacekeeping missions face impossible choices in countries where civil war has created complex economies built on violence and exploitation. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, peacekeepers struggle against informal networks that profit from ongoing conflict. Similar challenges emerge in South Sudan, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Somalia, where local power brokers, national politicians, and regional actors form webs of influence that undermine peace efforts. Sherman examines how these war economies shape the work of UN missions attempting to protect civilians and mediate conflicts. The organization has made some progress since the 1990s in understanding these dynamics, but continues to struggle with how to dismantle predatory networks that benefit from instability. Through detailed case studies, the book reveals the gap between UN headquarters policies and field realities. Sherman offers practical recommendations for improving the organization's effectiveness while acknowledging that political and institutional barriers will persist. The analysis shows how peacekeeping operations must navigate between their mandates and the entrenched interests that sustain conflict.
Genres: history, international-relations, political-science, economics, non-fiction, current-affairs, africa, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: gritty
Setting: Afghanistan, Congo, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan
350 pages · Hardcover · Routledge