Working Papers

Who Paints the Helmets Blue? Gender Equality and Contributions to PKOs (Under Review)

(with Nila Zarepour-Arizi & Luisa Garcia)

Abstract. We develop a bottom-up theoretical framework, incorporating concepts of "surrogate responsibility" and "sisterhood" to explain how the peaceful tendencies of women in political office exceed their national boundaries. This study provides evidence that countries with a greater share of women in the legislature and the implementation of gender quotas are more likely to contribute a greater number of troops and personnel to UN peacekeeping operations. Our research makes several significant contributions. First, it reveals that the impact of women's substantive representation extends beyond their domestic policies and national borders. Second, it adds to the existing literature on domestic politics and peacekeeping theoretically and empirically. Third, it advances the theoretical understanding of the influence of women's representation in the legislature and the integration of gender-focused policies in peacekeeping initiatives. We present strong empirical evidence demonstrating the association between female legislators and the adoption of gender quotas with increased contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, particularly in the post-2000 period.

The Paradox of Peacekeeping: UN Peacekeepers and Social Cohesion in Conflict-Affected Communities 

(with William Favell & Nila Zarepour-Arizi)

Abstract. As the United Nations continues to adopt new mandates and policies to enhance the efficiency of its peacekeeping operations, questions arise concerning the effectiveness of these initiatives. One puzzle evolves around the relationship between the presence of UN peacekeepers and the level of trust in institutions in local societies. While UN peacekeepers are tasked with rebuilding trust and supporting governance structures, their presence can simultaneously evoke fear and trauma, leading to potentially conflicting outcomes. This study seeks to investigate the nuanced impact of UN peacekeeping operations on institutional trust within conflict-affected communities, employing advanced spatial coding techniques and geolocated survey data to assess this relationship empirically. We suggest that first, UN peacekeepers promote trust by stabilizing the environment, reducing violence, and promoting community engagement and reconciliation; second, their armed presence may deepen fear and distrust, particularly in communities with a history of conflict and corruption. To this end, we demonstrate that individuals exposed to UN peacekeepers consistently report lower levels of institutional trust across Africa. However, the negative impact of peacekeepers on trust diminishes in areas that have recently experienced conflict, while regions with a history of relative peace over the past year show more pronounced negative effects. Further, we argue that these effects have a spatial aspect, with closer proximity to peacekeepers associated with lower trust, while trust increases as distance from their presence grows. Our findings provide significant insights into UN mandates and initiatives in PKOs. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between security provision and its psychological effects within conflict-effected settings, revealing the dual-edged nature of PKOs.