Jennifer Welsh on Ethical Challenges of UN Peacekeeping | Carnegie Council

March 13, 2025 | Director Jennifer Welsh and Jean-Marie Guéhenno were hosted by Juris Pupcenoks and Brian A. Mateo from Carnegie Council Podcast. The leading practitioners grapple with critical questions for UN peacekeeping operations as they present unique ethical challenges for both multilateral actors and local communities. "In some instances we can see that there can be tensions between what is sometimes referred to as the “primacy of politics” and the protection of civilians, for example, when advancement of a mission’s immediate political goals makes civilian and uniformed personnel in a mission reluctant to confront national or local authorities over actions that threaten or harm civilians. In particular conflict parties and host governments often retain significant leverage and agency, which can limit the UN’s ability to fully implement the mandate. This is something that is a constant tension for peacekeepers," explains Welsh in the podcast.