 | Conflict and Peace in Western Sahara: The Role of the UN's Peacekeeping Mission (MINURSO) Subjects: Area Studies; Politics & International Relations; International Relations; Middle East Studies; Military & Strategic Studies; International Politics; Security Studies - Pol & Intl Relns; Middle East Politics; African Politics; Middle East Politics; Peacekeeping; Security Studies - Military & Strategic; This book offers the first comprehensive analysis of MINURSO (the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), focused on its activities, composition, purpose and operational future in Western Sahara, the world's last colony. The book's focus is broad, examining MINURSO from key historical, legal, military and political angles whilst assessing the future of UN peacekeeping missions in the Western Sahara. Supported by a diverse, international mix of perspectives and professions - including academics, lawyers, soldiers and humanitarian aid workers - an in-depth view of MINURSO is provided, rooted in practical Western Saharan field experience. The authors reveal the complexities of the region and of the mission locally, but also analyse MINURSO through a global lens, focusing on relations with the United States, China, Russia, France and African states. This approach emphasises the importance of the region as a site of international struggle while remaining conscious of local contexts. A landmark contribution to peacekeeping studies, the book is vital reading for practitioners and academics focused on the Western Saharan conflict and the MENA region, but will also be of interest to those engaged in international relations, international law and security studies. János Besenyő is a former military officer, Professor in the Doctoral School for Safety and Security Sciences at Óbuda University and head of the Africa Research Center. He served in several peace operations in Africa. He studies conflict management, peacekeeping, and African history. Joseph Huddleston is an Assistant Professor in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. He studies diplomacy by self-determination and secessionist groups, international responses to intrastate conflict, and war economies in protracted social conflicts. Yahia H. Zoubir is a Professor of International Studies and Director of Research in Geopolitics at KEDGE Business School, France. He has published works on the Western Sahara conflict for nearly 35 years, including articles in the Middle East Journal, Middle East Policy, Journal of Modern African Studies, and California Western International Law Journal. |
