Human Security Lab Convenes Experts to Consider Peacekeeping in Afghanistan

Fifteen scholars of international affairs, peacekeeping and civil wars convened for the second time this week at University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Human Security Lab to discuss whether and how the international community could stand up a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. The initiative was funded by a generous grant from the UMass Amherst School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, as a reaction by scholars to deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the perception that policymakers at the United Nations have all but abandoned the country to its fate.

The ad hoc Group of Experts formed after Human Security Lab Director Charli Carpenter published an essay in World Politics Review calling for a peacekeeping mission. Her essay drew on work by Professor David Cortright, from Notre Dame University’s Keough School of Global Policy, who had earlier suggested a stabilization mission in Afghanistan; and Major Ryan van Wie of West Point who had published a paper in the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs in November laying out the rationale and force structure for such a mission. They were joined by Professor Sabrina Karim of Cornell University, who runs the Gender and Security Sector Lab and specializes in peacekeeping, Professor John Ciorciari from University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy who studies international/domestic sovereignty-sharing agreements, and Professor Lise Howard of Georgetown University, author of Power in Peacekeeping.

The group expanded for its second meeting Thursday, drawing an additional ten participants from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, along with six graduate and under-graduate students associated with the Lab who took notes and facilitated the conversations. Participants submitted 1-pg background briefs, and separated into break-out groups to explore issues such as what type of mandate a mission might have, how to secure Taliban consent, the tradeoffs between size and robustness, and the political conditions for an effective mission.

Scholars still disagree about whether such a mission should include a robust civilian protection mandate or be primarily an observer mission, but all agree that to some extent that determination will depend on evolving political dynamics. They concurred, however, that the UN should enhance its involvement to prevent Afghanistan from further civil war. A third meeting is being scheduled next week, to draw in participants from Australia, Europe and the South Asian and Pacific theater.