The Deployment of United Nations Peacekeeping Missions and the Dynamics of Host States: An Empirical Analysis

United Nations (UN) peacekeeping is one of the most effective instruments for mitigating conflict and promoting international stability. It offers both international legitimacy and a framework for shared responsibility. Especially after the Cold War, UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) have been deployed in complex and challenging contexts, primarily in civil conflicts within states classified as failed or fragile. However, UN peacekeeping forces have not been deployed in every conflict-affected country. In this study, it is argued that the probability of UN deployment is linked to the characteristics of the host countries. This study focuses on country-level factors that influence the probability of deployment to examine the determinants of UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) deployment. Focusing on peacekeeping operations conducted by the UN worldwide between 2000 and 2015, this study estimates a logit panel model with a sample of 17 countries to assess the determinants of probability PKO deployment. The main findings of our study are as follows: An increase in state capacity and GDP per capita correlates with a decreased probability of PKO deployment. Conversely, higher levels of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and military expenditures are associated with an increased probability of PKO deployment. Additionally, the presence of conflict, political instability, and terrorism significantly increases the probability of PKO deployment.