The Future of Peacekeeping

United Nations peacekeeping remains one of the UN’s most visible and distinctive tools for supporting fragile peace processes. However, the environment in which peacekeepers operate is changing rapidly. Conflicts are becoming more fragmented, political consensus is harder to achieve, and missions increasingly face new threats linked to emerging technologies, misinformation, and changing patterns of violence.

This session explores how peacekeeping may need to evolve in response to these challenges. It examines current debates about future mission models, the growing importance of political strategy and realistic mandates, the impact of drones and artificial intelligence, and the role of innovation in areas such as mine action and demining. The course also considers the importance of partnerships, local ownership and the continuing contribution of Member States, including Australia.

Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the pressures shaping the future of UN peacekeeping, and of the ways in which peace operations may need to adapt in order to remain relevant and effective.