The Morality of Peacekeeping

'Far and away the finest and clearest analysis of the ethical dimensions of this important peacebuilding tool written to date. Levine dives into long-standing issues of consent, impartiality, use of force, and civilian protection and comes up with novel insights and arguments of enormous appeal, logic, and practicality, while ensuring throughout a good theoretical grounding. I believe this book will prove a landmark in this field, an essential go-to for scholars and practitioners alike.' William Durch, The Stimson Center 'This book reads, in part, as a "conversation with self", deeply reflective, clear and helpful as Daniel Levine grapples with and explains the moral nature of peacekeeping. Hugely illustrative and rich.' Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director, Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria office What is the peacekeeper's role in the 21st Century? The increasing prominence of non-traditional warfare since the end of the Cold War has prompted an extensive re-thinking of the morality of war. Whilst counterinsurgency and counterterrorism campaigns tend to grab the headlines, peacekeeping continues to be an important international tool for responding to conflicts and protecting individuals from human rights abuses. Peacekeeping missions raise a number of difficult moral and practical questions. They are charged with the seemingly paradoxical task of using military force to achieve reconciliation among populations that have been split apart by conflict and are often traumatized by atrocities. This book argues that peacekeeping is morally distinct from warfighting, policing, and governance, asserting that the 'holy trinity' of peacekeeping principles - consent, impartiality, and minimum use of force - still provide the best guide to its morality. Daniel H. Levine uses insights from care ethics as well as extensive interviews with peacekeepers in the field, predominantly from Africa and India, to develop the idea that peacekeepers have no enemies and should be seeking to bring even abusive actors into a Kantian 'kingdom of ends'. Cases discussed include Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, and Liberia. Daniel H. Levine is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. Cover image: Peacekeeper with the Indian 'High Five' battalion, Kibumba, DRC, 2009 (c) Michael Kniss. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com