Environmental Peacebuilding and a UN Rapid Response Force as a Counter to Conflicts over Natural Resources

Abstract

<p>Over 20% of the world’s population live in conflict-affected areas where natural resources and governance play a key negative role in both the conflict and the fragility of state and society. It follows that good governance of natural resources offers a significant opportunity for preventing conflict or contributing to post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding. </p> <p>UN peacekeeping operations and the UN Security Council face increased challenges in addressing conflicts with clear links to natural resource mismanagement. Peacekeeping reforms, including rapid deployment, were identified as some of the most cost-efficient and effective ways to achieve their mandates and capitalize on the peacebuilding potential of natural resources.</p> <p>This study examined the stresses on natural resources that led to conflict, providing theoretical background and case studies of natural resource conflict and peacebuilding efforts. It also explored the benefits of enhancing peacekeeping’s rapid deployment for conflict resolution and stabilization based on extensive literature on the UN’s best practices and lessons learned.</p> <p>The causes and driving forces behind natural resource conflicts were found to be complex and interlinked, including poverty, poor governance, excessive consumption, unequal access to resources, armed group activities, and illegal exploitation of resources. The thesis analyzed the linkages between natural resources and selected conflicts to address specific natural resource threats and highlighted successful peacebuilding efforts. A range of case study examples was presented, including managing water resources, mining, fisheries, forests, human-wildlife conflicts, and the consequences of climate change.¹ </p> <p>Furthermore, UN reform was shown to improve peacekeepers’ performance and reaction times in addressing these emerging threats. This research illustrated the evolution of the UN’s rapid deployment capacity and reform towards a UN standby force with a clear mandate for conflict resolution concerning natural resources. A range of UN publications and experiences from the ground provided an exhaustive set of recommendations to improve peacekeeping.</p> <p>The thesis concluded that addressing natural resource conflicts required long-term peacebuilding efforts ranging from community dialogue to technical capacity-building for natural resource management. A rapidly deployable peace operation with enhanced capacity played a decisive role in protecting civilians and natural resources by defusing conflicts, restoring state authority, and controlling resources. </p> <p>This study serves as a valuable reference for advanced students of natural resource management, environmental studies, development studies, and peace and conflict management. It is also relevant to practitioners in peace and security, conflict resolution, and mediation over natural resource management.</p>