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integrity and transparency for tho- eping contexts have contributed example, without a Constitution
se engaged in public service posi- to a reduction in the use of small (or related legislation) there may
tions, openness to cross-jurisdictio- arms, and the sustainable reinte- be no fair and free elections; wi-
nal cooperation, and intolerance gration into society of those who thout DDR there can be no politi-
to discrimination and proliferation previously destabilised the country. cal stability within which political
of crime. The- parties can go-
se values are in PEACEKEEPING IS ORDINARILY ENVISIONED vern; without a
turn enshrined AS BEING THE FIRST STEP IN A JOURNEY WHE- separation of
in primary and State powers
secondary le- REBY A COUNTRY RE-STABILISES AND RE-BU- there can be
gislation (e.g. ILDS ITSELF. THE OBVIOUS LONG-TERM HOPE no independent
anti-corruption IS THAT THE HOST COUNTRY, WITH THE HELP judiciary; wi-
measures), and thout a functio-
enforced throu- OF DONOR ENTITIES, STRENGTHENS ITS CORE nal police force
gh accountabi- INFRASTRUCTURE SO IT CAN BE RESILIENT, DE- there will be
lity bodies such fewer offenders
as a Judicial MOCRATIC, AND EVENTUALLY FUNCTION WI- brought before
Council or po- THOUT THE NEED FOR OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE judges; without
lice misconduct accountability
panel. Without the existence of Despite the obvious input that pe- of public offi cials there is a lack of
these core pillar institutions and acekeepers play in the nation-bu- citizen-State trust etc. This is a com-
corresponding cross-cutting va- ilding process, it is important they plicated and organic matrix that
lues, the ‘house’ of a nation will should remember the necessity of needs nurturing from its inception.
not be built, and a country and adopting a strategic and coordi- Taking a macro view of the contri-
AND THE BIRTH OF NATIONS its citizens will remain dispara- nated approach; something that bution of peacekeeping efforts to
missions have sometimes failed to State-hood, it therefore becomes
te and structure-less, vulnerable
to insecurity and exploitation. do. It is unwise for missions to pla- apparent that a broader under-
Within this context, peacekeepers ce an over-emphasis on one of the standing and appreciation is nee-
are sometimes mistakenly seen nation-building pillars to the detri- ded of the nation-building process
as the short-term fi x, disassocia- ment of the others, e.g. elections. and the role that peacekeepers
ted from the longer-term vision; a As the saying goes, Rome was not play in it. Given the word ‘nation’
stop-gap whose only function is to built in a day, and as a country’s comes from the French and Latin
halt violence until there is a per- infrastructure grows, each com- words for ‘birth’, it is entirely fi tting
manent cessation of hostilities. This ponent becomes intertwined with, that the presence and contribution
is, however, a blinkered view of the and reliant on, the others in order of peacekeepers to nation-building
role and contribution of peaceke- that it can remain functional. For efforts should be duly recognised.
epers to nation-building efforts.
Peacekeepers create and facilitate FRANCESCA DEL MESE
the much-needed space in which is an Italian-British international
the foundations for pillar institu- lawyer and part-time judge in the UK.
tions can be shaped and built, and She also sits as a Chair for serious
they also contribute expertise to the police misconduct panels for ten po-
process. Examples of this include lice forces across the UK. Francesca
AMISOM troops in Somalia, who- specialises in rule of law and tran-
se presence helps enable com- sitional justice in confl ict and fragile
plicated federalisation processes States, and regularly advises States
to be consulted upon, and whose and the UN in numerous countries,
technical advice has contributed as well as teaching on international
to the same. Similarly, UN DDR law, policy and the practicalities of
programmes in many peaceke- re-building justice systems

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