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Peacekeeping Operations: A Neo-Imperial Tool? A critical discourse analysis on the United Nations peacekeeping operations mandate in Haiti and Timor-Leste

Sjögren Eliasson, Johanna LU (2025) SIMZ11 20251
Graduate School
Abstract
For 75 years, the United Nations has focused on peacebuilding, with peacekeeping operations serving as the organization's most visible and significant representation. These operations are regarded as one of the most effective methods for helping a nation transition from conflict to peace. The peacekeeping operation has predominantly occurred in the Global South, where it has faced significant criticism for fostering neo-imperial ideas and being seen as a method of transforming the host state from within. The study aims to determine whether UN peacekeeping mandates reinforce colonial hierarchies between the Global North and the Global South, thereby serving as a neo-imperial tool. This will be accomplished by examining two different... (More)
For 75 years, the United Nations has focused on peacebuilding, with peacekeeping operations serving as the organization's most visible and significant representation. These operations are regarded as one of the most effective methods for helping a nation transition from conflict to peace. The peacekeeping operation has predominantly occurred in the Global South, where it has faced significant criticism for fostering neo-imperial ideas and being seen as a method of transforming the host state from within. The study aims to determine whether UN peacekeeping mandates reinforce colonial hierarchies between the Global North and the Global South, thereby serving as a neo-imperial tool. This will be accomplished by examining two different resolutions establishing peacekeeping operations: MINUSTAH in Haiti and UNMIT in Timor-Leste, to identify any potential neo-imperial tendencies within their mandates. Through a post-colonial lens, combined with Fairclough’s theory of critical discourse analysis, the study reveals that international interventions are often portrayed as neutral, humanitarian, or technically oriented initiatives. Nevertheless, they are significantly shaped by and reflect postcolonial power dynamics. The study also reveals how the language and framework of global governance sustain hierarchies rooted in colonial histories and create hierarchies between the Global North and the Global South. (Less)
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author
Sjögren Eliasson, Johanna LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ11 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
United Nations, Peacekeeping operations, Peacebuilding, Neo-imperialism, Post-colonialism, Discourse analysis, MINUSTAH, UNMIT
language
English
id
9202668
date added to LUP
2025-06-27 12:42:43
date last changed
2025-06-27 12:42:43
@misc{9202668,
  abstract     = {{For 75 years, the United Nations has focused on peacebuilding, with peacekeeping operations serving as the organization's most visible and significant representation. These operations are regarded as one of the most effective methods for helping a nation transition from conflict to peace. The peacekeeping operation has predominantly occurred in the Global South, where it has faced significant criticism for fostering neo-imperial ideas and being seen as a method of transforming the host state from within. The study aims to determine whether UN peacekeeping mandates reinforce colonial hierarchies between the Global North and the Global South, thereby serving as a neo-imperial tool. This will be accomplished by examining two different resolutions establishing peacekeeping operations: MINUSTAH in Haiti and UNMIT in Timor-Leste, to identify any potential neo-imperial tendencies within their mandates. Through a post-colonial lens, combined with Fairclough’s theory of critical discourse analysis, the study reveals that international interventions are often portrayed as neutral, humanitarian, or technically oriented initiatives. Nevertheless, they are significantly shaped by and reflect postcolonial power dynamics. The study also reveals how the language and framework of global governance sustain hierarchies rooted in colonial histories and create hierarchies between the Global North and the Global South.}},
  author       = {{Sjögren Eliasson, Johanna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Peacekeeping Operations: A Neo-Imperial Tool? A critical discourse analysis on the United Nations peacekeeping operations mandate in Haiti and Timor-Leste}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}