UN peacekeepers commit atrocities despite their civilian protection mandate. This study examines why misconduct varies across missions.

Influences on Peacekeeper Behavior

The puzzle is addressed through three broad factors: host-country institutions, contributing country frameworks, and military culture compliance.

* Host-country institutions (press freedom, rule of law) significantly reduce violations when strong.

* Compliance with international humanitarian law also decreases misconduct, though less effectively than robust institutional setups.

Societal Factors Minimal Impact

Contrary to expectations, societal characteristics like gender norms or income inequality show virtually no effect on reported abuses. This suggests that institutional and legal environments may be more critical drivers of peacekeeper conduct.

Military Culture

The third determinant is military culture itself. Its influence appears substantial in shaping misconduct levels among peacekeeping forces.

Practical Implications

The findings provide a clear framework for predicting misconduct risks, useful even for hypothetical peacekeeping scenarios in unstable regions.