Uks role in international conflict

• Mediation

  • Mediation brings together different sides in a dispute to find a negotiated solution.
  • Involves a neutral third party (not involved in the conflict).
  • All sides must:
  • Be included
  • Willing to listen
  • Without this, mediation will not work.
  • Example: Tony Blair acted as a Middle East peace envoy – a role involving UK mediation.
• Sanctions

  • Sanctions are penalties for breaking international rules.
  • They pressure powerful individuals or countries to change policies, end conflict, or respect human rights.
  • Types of sanctions:
  • Not letting a country sell goods abroad (economic pressure)
  • Ban on selling military equipment
  • Expelling diplomats from other countries
  • Example: UK imposed sanctions on:
  • Russia (for Crimea occupation and Ukraine conflict)
  • North Korea (for nuclear weapons development)
• Force

  • Force is a last resort used when mediation and sanctions fail.
  • Can involve:
  • Direct military intervention
  • Supporting other fighters with equipment and expertise
  • Setting up/enforcing no-fly zones
  • Examples:
  • UK intervened in Iraq in 2003
  • UK set up no-fly zones in Libya with Royal Air Force, as part of a coalition operation
• Resolving Conflict in Sierra Leone

  • 1990s civil war devastated Sierra Leone (a former UK colony).
  • UK followed Tony Blair’s humanitarian intervention policy and:
  • Sent soldiers and police officers to join the UN mission keeping peace
  • In May 2000, sent armed forces to evacuate foreign citizens as RUF advanced on capital Freetown
  • Worked with ECOWAS in the 1999–2005 UNAMSIL operation to:
  • Stabilise the country
  • Disarm and demobilise fighters
  • Helped train a new army and civilian police force
  • About 900 British troops sent to help with a hostage crisis where RUF captured UN peacekeepers
  • Liberian President Charles Taylor helped mediate the release