Abstract provided at URN:
Can UN conflict management be effective in African civil wars? In order to answer this question, the study chooses the Global Governance approach as a frame of reference and applies it to peace and conflict research. A short historical excursion considers the role of the United Nations in the Congo conflict (1960-1964) and in southern Africa. Five case studies form the empirical core of the thesis: Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Somalia and Rwanda. The thesis compares the experiences of the 1990's and discusses current proposals on the reform of UN peace operations (e. g. the Brahimi Report)