PEACE OPERATIONS
Called peacekeeping by the United Nations, peace operations are an essential but problematic instrument for conflict prevention, management and resolution. Peacekeeping has had some remarkable successes (e.g., in Cambodia, Central America, Mozambique, East Timor) and some difficult failures (the 1993-95 missions in Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda). The majority of operations have been qualified successes. Outside intervention in conflicts, even with the best of intentions, can have some negative consequences yet peace operations still have much to offer. How can this instrument of the international community be made more effective? Dr. Dorn explores some possibilities.
>> Peace Operations research page
He published the book Keeping Watch: Technology and Innovation in UN Peace Operations and edited the volume Air Power in UN Operations: Wings for Peace. Also available on this site: other relevant Publications and some Presentations (PPT) of his.
RELIGIONS ON WAR AND PEACE
Decisions by nations or armed groups to fight are life-and-death judgements informed by and sometimes determined by ethical principles and religious beliefs. All world religions provide guidelines on when armed force is justified. Are the permissions and prohibitions similar among religions? This research seeks to map out the range of religious approaches to armed force.
>> Religions on War and Peace research page
USE OF FORCE & JUST WAR
To better understand what makes people, organizations and nations use violence or armed force against adversaries, this project examines various ethical and moral justifications used in past and present conflicts and wars. Understanding pre-conflict justifications can help identify important early-warning indicators of pending conflict. By examining the grievances and justifications of potential adversaries, a wider range of prevention and mitigation strategies can become apparent. Just war theory provides a set a general criteria to examine the many reasons, valid or invalid, used to justify war and armed force.
OTHER
Walter Dorn also conducts research in other areas, including: arms control (publications); intelligence studies; the United Nations and international criminal law. He has a major research project on the UN's mediation during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
For research on national/international security, especially relating to Canada, the US, and the UN, he has compiled a useful list of primary source documents (with full text links). Some useful online links are provided in this list (to be developed).