Semester of Graduation

Fall 2025

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Political Science

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

While much of the existing literature on the determinants of UN peacekeeping deployment and political mandates focuses on factors such as civilian casualties, conflict duration, and external influences like third-party interests, alliances, and bilateral agreements, there is limited research on the role of colonial legacies in predicting peacekeeping outcomes. This study investigates how colonial legacies—specifically, countries that gained independence through violence and those with an indirect rule legacy—affect peacekeeping and political mandates. I argue that peacekeeping is more likely in countries with a violent independence history than those with an indirect rule legacy. Conversely, political mandates are more common in countries with an indirect rule legacy than those with violent independence. I analyzed variations in peacekeeping and political mandates using logistic regression based on these colonial legacies. The results support the hypothesis that peacekeeping is more frequent in post-violent independence countries, while political mandates are evenly pursued across both colonial legacies.

Date

9-5-2025

Committee Chair

Tirone, Daniel

Available for download on Friday, September 03, 2032

Share

COinS