The international context: UN, EU and NATO views on stabilization 19 pages, pdf  Download Back

The international context: UN, EU and NATO views on stabilization

Publisher: Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

Volume: 19 pages, pdf

Description:

Contemporary stabilization missions are multilateral enterprises. Practically if not actually all states lack the requisite means, expertise and legitimacy to conduct stabilization unilaterally. Therefore, stabilization missions are virtually always deployed under the auspices of multinational organizations. For the Netherlands, the most important multilateral organizations in this regard are the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). These organizations have developed diverging approaches to stabilization.

The UN has the longest tradition of involvement in post-conflict situations. Since 1948, the UN has deployed peacekeeping missions, contributing to the stabilization of countries emerging from violent conflict. Peacekeeping has since evolved to encompass tasks ranging from creating a safe and secure environment to institution-building.

The EUs involvement in stabilization is much less longstanding. The EU has nevertheless deployed an impressive number of missions since 2003. EU stabilization is primarily focused on capacity-building and the provision of training and advice.

NATOs role in stabilization is relatively recent. NATO has transformed itself into a multipurpose security institution. While NATO generally operates at the high end of the violence spectrum, it also carries out initial stabilization tasks after violent conflict has been stemmed.