Conflict management in the international context : analyzing the role of the United Nations in the Western Sahara conflict

Abstract

The United Nations is the most productive international organization in resolving international world conflicts. The UN uses different techniques and approaches to resolve international conflicts, including mediation. This study analyzes the process of mediation and international conflict management from the point of view of UN efforts in the Western Sahara conflict, which has been ongoing since 1975. This study specifically focuses on the UN’s role in resolving intercultural conflict in Western Sahara and the concrete steps it has taken, such as implementation of the cease-fire, the Settlement Plan and establishing the Mission for an independence referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). It also examines on the negotiation process of the UN, and leaders of the countries involved in the conflict. Moreover, this research considers how the UN has taken into consideration questions of culture and ethnicity when resolving intercultural conflict. The study is based on qualitative content analysis of documents such as resolutions and reports published by different UN bodies. Over 200 documents from the years 1991, 1997, and 2016 were retrieved from the UN Official Document System for this research. The results of this research illustrate that UN mediation, in attempting to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara, helped establish a cease-fire between Morocco and Frente Polisario and the implementation of the Settlement Plan. Nevertheless, this strategy of peaceful negotiation and communication has not yet achieved the main goal of holding an independence referendum in Western Sahara.