Peaceful Settlement of Disputes by the United Nations and Other Intergovernmental Bodies

Abstract

Skjelsbæk, K. Peaceful Settlement of Disputes by the United Nations and other Intergovernmental Bodies. Cooperation and Conflict, XXI, 1986, 139-154.

The resolution of dangerous conflicts is among the most important tasks entrusted to the UN and other intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Arguably, their per formance in this field is declining. Nevertheless, these organizations have at their disposal a range of instruments for peaceful settlement of disputes: Public appeals, channels of communication, mediators, fact-finding commissions, peacekeeping forces, humanitarian aid programs, and international courts. The effect of each of these instruments, or combinations of them, is often, but not always, disappointing. There are cases where public appeals are heeded to; fact-finding commissions often succeed in dispelling fear based on rumors, and peacekeeping forces by and large accomplish their mission. The success of the UN and other IGOs hinges on a number of factors, including the size of their membership, the political divisions among their members, and the economic resources available. Conflicts between major members tend to paralyze all IGOs, while it is easier to cope with conflicts between smaller states. Neither the UN nor regional IGOs are supposed to intervene in domestic conflict. This rule limits their effectiveness in those interstate conflicts where domestic strife is an important element.