The United Nations and intra‐state conflict

The biggest challenge facing the UN in the post‐Cold War period is intra‐state conflict. The three problems posed by intra‐state conflict are the willingness of UN members, particularly the strongest member, to intervene; the structural ability of the UN to respond; and whether the traditional principles of peacekeeping should be applied to intra‐state conflict. It is argued that after the passage of PDD‐25 the US has little enthusiasm for involvement in intra‐state conflict and that the UN still has serious structural problems addressing this type of conflict. Specific suggestions for reforming the UN, such as creating standing forces or adding permanent members to the Security Council, are seen as unlikely in the near future. Lastly, two of the traditional principles of peacekeeping need to be reviewed: namely, those of the consensual basis of intervention and the need for strict impartiality. In some cases consent should not be a condition for intervention and the insistence upon impartiality has proved counterproductive to solving many of the post‐Cold War intra‐state conflicts.