The narrative about peace operations should be seriously improved

The questions and the debate that followed my presentation on UN peace operations – yesterday´s post was about the public address I delivered on 28 April on the subject – have once again shown the need for a greater investment on a positive narrative on peacekeeping. It was clear that even a better educated audience has a biased perception about the mandates and the role of the UN in peacekeeping and peace building. I have actually been confronted with the same situation in the exercises I do with senior officers from my part of the world. The misinformation and misunderstandings are just too many. They have, obviously, an impact on the way the European politicians see the participation of their forces in UN operations. They make it more difficult for people like me to advocate for a stronger EU commitment to military and police missions led by the UN.

There are a number of things the UN and the supporters of international solidarity should do better in the field of peace and security. For sure one of them has to do with messaging. If they cannot win the narrative they will not be able to get more support.