India’s UN Peacekeeping Operations Involvement in Africa

Change in Nature of Participation and Driving Factors

Bibliographic Data

ID9976219
AuthorsYeshi Choedon (0000-0001-9079-5537, Jawaharlal Nehru University, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume51
Issue1-4
Pages16-34
Publication date2014-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-8817 • E-ISSN: 0973-0702
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0020881717719184
OpenAlexW2772725743
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited14

India accords high significance to its participation in the UN peacekeeping in Africa. Apart from examining India’s contribution in quantitative terms and the varieties of personnel involved, it highlights the Indian peacekeepers’ unique characteristics in terms of professionalism, reliability, humane approach and other distinctive features. It also discusses blemishes they brought on the country because of allegations of corruption and sexual abuse, and how India tackles those issues. The major focus is on the driving factors, which motivated India to participate in the risky operations in Africa that have evolved in keeping with the geopolitical shifts at the global level. Initially, the rationale for its participation was to express solidarity with African countries, but now it is more to ensure energy security and to maximize the opportunity for trade and investment. The aspiration for recognition as a great power remains a constant factor of its involvement in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, and India has been leveraging this contribution for claiming a permanent seat at the UN Security Council since the early 1990s. It discusses the apprehension of a shift in India’s participation due to frustration at the lack of progress in UN reform. However, the indicators direct that the attempt is more to reconfigure its participation and to highlight the need to go back to the traditional root of the peacekeeping operations, keeping in view the diversions that took place in the post-Cold War

Apprehension · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Geopolitics · Language change · Peacekeeping · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · International Development and Aid · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Psychology · Public Administration

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