Publication
Discourse change in international organisations: How UN peace operations respond to global normative change and shifting power distributions
In this article, Tom Buitelaar, argues that the micro-level discourse of international organisations adapts imperfectly to macro-level changes, balancing adaptation to macro pressures with commitment to persistent organisational values.
- Author
- Tom Buitelaar
- Date
- 17 December 2024
- Links
- Read the full article here
The author argues that international organisations (IOs) respond to global normative changes and shifting power among member states through imperfect adaptation. Buitelaar mentions that IOs’ micro-level discourse balances adaptation to macro pressures with persistent organisational values. This argument is tested by examining how the human rights discourse of two large UN peace operations adapted to the shift from liberal peacekeeping to stabilisation. While discursive changes aligned with the paradigm shift, core norms remained. This suggests that as multipolarity and normative changes grow, IOs will remain responsive but continue to adapt in imperfect ways.