number of armed conflict by type 1946-2011

We show that this is likely due to the offsetting effects of violence perpetrated by governments and rebels, as PKOs are better equipped to respond to the latter. Ongoing violence is also negatively correlated with implementation of peacebuilding tasks, but not with security tasks.

Combining new datasets on PKO activities and mandates in Africa (1998-2016) and using instrumental variables and two-way fixed effects models, we find that mandate fragmentation is negatively correlated with mandate implementation, especially for peacebuilding tasks.

We argue that these two trends-increasingly fragmented mandates, increasingly implemented amidst violence-exacerbate delegation and coordination problems that hinder PKOs from pursuing mandated tasks, potentially undermining their legitimacy in the eyes of the Security Council, troop-contributing countries, and host governments.

Under what conditions do UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) implement the tasks in their mandates? Contemporary PKOs are expected to fulfil increasingly fragmented mandates in active conflict zones.

Number of armed conflict by type 1946-2011