Peacekeeping is one of five United Nations activities for peace, and peace enforcement is the one that applies coercive measures requiring the Security Council's explicit authorization

Background

United Nations Peacekeeping describes peacekeeping as one among a range of activities the Organization undertakes to maintain international peace and security. The other activities are conflict prevention and mediation, peacemaking, peace enforcement and peacebuilding. Conflict prevention involves diplomatic measures to keep intra-state or inter-state tensions and disputes from escalating into violent conflict, and includes early warning and analysis of the factors driving the conflict. Peacemaking generally means diplomatic action to bring hostile parties to a negotiated agreement, and may draw on the Secretary-General's good offices. Peace enforcement involves a range of coercive measures, including the use of military force, and requires the explicit authorization of the Security Council where it has decided to act in the face of a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression. Peacebuilding aims to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities for conflict management. The United Nations notes that these activities rarely occur in a linear or sequential way and should be seen as mutually reinforcing.