A Study about"Preventive Diplomacy"in the United Nations

The meaning of "preventive diplomacy" has been used widely in the field of United Nations peacekeeping. This paper aims at clarifying the meaning of "preventive diplomacy" on the following five parts. 1) The meaning of "preventive diplomacy" in the United Nations has been changing historically. The Charter of the United Nations prescribed the preventive measure as one of the compulsive measures in chapter 7 of the Charter. But the meaning of "preventive" has been changing. It has meant variously according to the Secretary General Hammarskjold, de Cuellar, Boutros-Gahli and so on. In the age of de Cuellar, ., for example, preventive diplomacy meant one of the measures of peaceful settlement of international conflict as in chapter 6 of the Charter. 2) As the definition of "preventive diplomacy" is examined. "Preventive diplomacy" should be distinguished, from preventive measure" and "preventive action". There are many actors in "preventive diplomacy", such as ethnic groups, non-governmental organizations and so on. Preventive diplomacy prevents not only international conflicts but also domestic conflicts. There are many definite measures of "preventive diplomacy" such as fact-finding, enquiry, global-watch, inspection, monitoring, early-warning, mediation, conciliation, confidence-building and so on. 3) An early-warning system in the United Nations is the most important measure of "preventive diplomacy". There are many actors in an early-warning system, including various types of the collectors of information, various types of senders of information and various types of receivers. Therefore it should not be necessary to collect information to the Secretariat of the United Nations. The Secretariat should co-ordinate various actors in this early-warning system. 4) Mainly there are three problems to pursuing "preventive diplomacy". Firstly, it is very difficult to verify steps in the process of "preventive diplomacy". Secondly, when we pursue "preventive diplomacy", national sovereignty is a barrier. Thirdly, there is no rules on "preventive diplomacy" in the Charter of the United Nations. 5) The concept of "preventive diplomacy" fundamentaly suggests the five visions for the conflict resolution system. (a) We must consider the conflict resolution system not only in the states system but also within the system of transnational actors. (b) Not only after the outbreak of conflict, but even before, the resolution of the conflict should be examined. (c) The principle of non-intervention in the domestic matters may be challenged. (d) The prescriptions for non-state actors such as non-governmental organizations, ethnic groups and individuals may be required in the Charter of the United Nations. (e) An early-warning system will lead for an integrated and comprehensive approach for the functions and operations of the United Nations.departmental bulletin pape