Definition
International operations, especially those mandated by the UN, intended to help maintain peace and support political processes in conflict-affected settings.
TERMINOLOGY NOTE
Distinction: traditional peacekeeping relies on consent; peace enforcement may use coercive force without consent under a valid mandate.
Theoretical Context
UN peacekeeping rests on consent, impartiality and limited force in self-defence or defence of the mandate; robust peacekeeping is not the same as peace enforcement.