A Peacekeeping mission involves a vast array of varied cultures. It is not uncommon for a single mission to involve troops, police and personnel from several contributing countries with their own languages, traditions and values. This intermingling of cultures can create complicated interactions that affect the ability to carry out peacekeeping missions effectively and to interact with host populations.

UN peacekeeping operations are becoming increasingly targeted by mis- and disinformation campaigns, hate speech and other forms of intimidation that have the potential to undermine a mission’s mandate. They also continue to face challenges in addressing various restrictions on their operating environment imposed by their host countries in violation of the Status of Forces Agreements.

In addition, there is a general mood among some Member States to be frugal on peacekeeping and the overall budget for the United Nations has been under pressure in recent years. This has resulted in a growing trend during mandate renewal negotiations to seek the removal of thematic and cross-cutting language on issues such as human rights; gender; climate, peace and security; and more.

Johansen and Fetherston view this as an opportunity to re-conceptualize peacekeeping missions’ role in terms of their contribution to larger values and their effectiveness as a means to achieving peace. They argue that instrumental criteria such as efficiency and task accomplishments should be evaluated in terms of their contributions to peacebuilding and conflict transformation and they question the validity of research designed to identify and measure manipulable factors that impact on peacekeeping success.