Final answer:
Peacekeeping generally involves UN troops entering conflict zones with consent to maintain peace, while peace-enforcement may use force without full consent and aims to ensure compliance with international mandates. Peace-enforcement is harder due to risks of confrontation and issues regarding state sovereignty and international relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Peacekeeping and Peace-enforcement
The primary difference between peacekeeping and peace-enforcement is their nature and the conditions in which they are implemented. Peacekeeping involves the deployment of international troops, often referred to as "blue helmets", provided by the United Nations (UN). These forces enter conflict zones with the consent of the parties involved to maintain a ceasefire and to support the implementation of comprehensive peace agreements.
Peace-enforcement, on the other hand, tends to involve more robust military actions taken without the express consent of all parties, often to restore international peace and security or to ensure compliance with a UN Security Council resolution. This can include compelling parties to a conflict to comply with terms set by the international community, sometimes even using force. The power of the United Nations in these matters comes from its Charter and resolutions passed by the Security Council.
The challenges of peace-enforcement over peacekeeping are greater because it may involve hostile confrontation, potential damage to international relationships, and the dilemma of infringing upon state sovereignty. Moreover, enforcing international law often requires significant political will and resources that member states may be hesitant to provide, making peace-enforcement a more complex and harder operation compared to peacekeeping.
The Role of the United Nations
The UN operates under a system of collective security whereby its members commit to maintaining international peace. This organization has specialized agencies like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which work autonomously but support the UN's mission.
Historically, the UN has been conducting peacekeeping operations since the late 1940s with the aim to 'save succeeding generations from the scourge of war'. It's important to realize that the UN has limitations as its powers are sourced and limited by its Charter and the willingness of its member states to enforce international law, particularly within the sovereign borders of its members. This affects the state's adherence to international human rights law and sometimes limits the UN's ability to intervene domestically.