The Role of the United Nations in the Political Development of Cambodia and East Timor

Abstract

The past decade has marked an increasing and expanding role of the United Nations in securing peace and in resolving interstate and intrastate conflicts. The most noted peacekeeping operations that claims of United Nations’ (UN) success are the transitional administrations established in Cambodia and East Timor. Elections that were supervised by the UN marked a pivotal role in signaling the end of the organization’s mandate in these countries. While the UN claims that elections serve as an avenue for building sustainable political institutions, it is the aim of this study to determine whether such elections instituted by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia and East Timor are means of inducing the society and formed government in the participation process. The level of participation as a dimension of political development is measured in terms of the integration of the society into the political system and in consolidating the different factions that formed their government. These indicators were further used to assess the similarities and differences of the electoral experience of both countries. Findings show that these elections in Cambodia and East Timor were successful in so far as mobilizing the society is concerned, but it failed to transcend to the resultant government. While similarities can be inferred in the scope, process and mandate of its elections, the nature and context by which such missions were instituted differ in both countries. The security problem and lack of cooperation of the parties involved in Cambodia deviates from the minimized role of violence and the concert of parties involved in East Timor.