UN Sanctions and Mediation: Establishing Evidence to Inform Practice

Mediation and UN sanctions are two essential policy instruments used by the United Nations in its efforts to prevent and resolve conflict. These two tools are frequently deployed in conjunction, although the degree of their overlap in time and the sequencing of their application vary. Bodies of research exist on how best to use sanctions and on how best to mediate conflicts. Yet, relatively little is known about when and whether these tools work well or work poorly together. This report constitutes a first step in a long overdue effort to establish evidence that can be used to inform practice in the joint application of UN sanctions and mediation. It is based on an 18-month policy research project conducted by the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, the Graduate Institute, Geneva, and swisspeace. The report is composed of four sections. The first section introduces the rationale and objectives of the research undertaking. The second section reviews the research questions posed, discusses the methodological approach taken, and offers a brief summary of the eleven case episodes. The third section presents the empirical and analytical findings of the project. The final section proposes a series of recommendations for member states, senior UN officials and scholars.