Approach Quote by Jean-Marie Guehenno
“When a peacekeeping operation is deployed, it is in support of a political process, it is part of an integrated approach. It is there to help when a state has broken down and to help that state regain some kind of balance. There is no quick fix.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: United Nations Peacekeeping Conference, 2005
Peacekeeping supports political processes and helps restore state stability, but cannot provide immediate solutions.
In simple terms: Peacekeeping aids political recovery, not quick fixes.
Key Takeaway
Focus on long‑term political solutions.
Themes
peacekeeping
politics
statebuilding
stability
Mood
cautious
realistic
Type
policy
analytical
When to use this quote
- post‑conflict reconstruction
- government collapse
- humanitarian crises
Key Concepts
conflict resolution
integrated approach
political legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can peacekeepers better align with political actors?
- What measures ensure lasting stability beyond deployment?
A Different Perspective
Success depends on political will and local cooperation.
![“When the US withdrew their troops from Somalia, I recall making a comment that [in] the way the peacekeepers had been withdrawn from Somalia, the impression had been given that the easiest way to unravel a peacekeeping operation is to kill a few soldiers.” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7f8/kofi-annan-799_comment_when-the-us-withdrew-their-troops-from-s_2606547.jpg)
