You, The People: The United Nations, Transitional Administration, And State-building (project Of The International Peace Academy)
by Simon Chesterman /
2005 / English / PDF
1.7 MB Download
The governance of post-conflict territories embodies a central
contradiction: how does one help a population prepare for
democratic governance and the rule of law by imposing a form of
benevolent autocracy?
The governance of post-conflict territories embodies a central
contradiction: how does one help a population prepare for
democratic governance and the rule of law by imposing a form of
benevolent autocracy?
Transitional administrations represent the most complex operations
attempted by the United Nations. The operations in East Timor and
Kosovo are commonly seen as unique in the history of the
UN--perhaps never to be repeated. But they may also be seen as the
latest in a series of operations that have involved the United
Nations in 'state-building' activities, where it has attempted to
develop the institutions of government by assuming some or all of
those sovereign powers on a temporary basis. The circumstances that
have demanded such interventions certainly will be repeated.
Transitional administrations represent the most complex operations
attempted by the United Nations. The operations in East Timor and
Kosovo are commonly seen as unique in the history of the
UN--perhaps never to be repeated. But they may also be seen as the
latest in a series of operations that have involved the United
Nations in 'state-building' activities, where it has attempted to
develop the institutions of government by assuming some or all of
those sovereign powers on a temporary basis. The circumstances that
have demanded such interventions certainly will be repeated.
Seen in the context of earlier UN operations, such as those in
Namibia, Cambodia, and Eastern Slavonia, the view that these
exceptional circumstances may not recur is somewhat disingenuous.
Moreover, the need for such policy research has been brought into
sharp focus by the weighty but ambiguous role assigned to the UN in
Afghanistan and the possibility of a comparable role in Iraq.
Seen in the context of earlier UN operations, such as those in
Namibia, Cambodia, and Eastern Slavonia, the view that these
exceptional circumstances may not recur is somewhat disingenuous.
Moreover, the need for such policy research has been brought into
sharp focus by the weighty but ambiguous role assigned to the UN in
Afghanistan and the possibility of a comparable role in Iraq.
This book fills that gap. Aimed at policy-makers, diplomats, and a
wide academic audience (including international relations,
political science, international law, and war studies), the book
provides a concise history of UN state-building operations and a
treatment of the five key issues confronting such an operation on
the ground: peace and security, the role of the UN as government,
judicial reconstruction, economic reconstruction, and exit
strategies.
This book fills that gap. Aimed at policy-makers, diplomats, and a
wide academic audience (including international relations,
political science, international law, and war studies), the book
provides a concise history of UN state-building operations and a
treatment of the five key issues confronting such an operation on
the ground: peace and security, the role of the UN as government,
judicial reconstruction, economic reconstruction, and exit
strategies.