When Peacekeeping Intersects with La Francophonie: Scope, Significance and Implications

Abstract

developing and implementing peacekeeping capacitybuilding projects for French-speaking countries in bilateral and multilateral contexts, this article critically explores the intersection of peace operations and the francophone spaces. The argument is that there has been an increasing 'francophone fact' or a 'francophonization' of peace operations. The article explains this emergence and examines its implications that, we argue, extend beyond the francophone space. The article suggests that the increasing importance of the 'francophone fact' in peacekeeping is the result of three reinforcing dynamics: (1) the reality of UN deployments in the past decade with more than a half of the blue helmets deployed in francophone settings; (2) the consequent creation of specific needs for the 'good functioning' of multidimensional peace operations; and (3) an incomplete but undeniable 'appropriation' of peace operations by francophone states and organizations.