The UN Secretariat’s Capacities for Autonomous Action

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to explore the Secretariat’s capacities for autonomous action with a special focus on peacekeeping. First, the Secretariat’s material and immaterial resources for autonomy will be scrutinised, its features such as size, permanency and organisational culture, its mandate and its financial resources. Second, the limitations to the Secretariat’s autonomous character will be explored. In particular, the formal and informal control and sanction mechanisms of member states will be analysed. Special attention will be paid to the political dynamics within the UN that have an impact on the functioning of the control mechanisms. The chapter will conclude by discussing the effectiveness of member state control mechanisms and by delivering an overall assessment of the Secretariat’s principle capacities for autonomous action in the area of peacekeeping.