What is the nature of warlordism and why does it pose such a significant challenge to peace operations?

Warlordism is the control of a military leader within a certain area, primarily acting without legitimate international authority. In particular relation to this week’s topic, Warlordism is considered a key characteristic of ‘New Wars’ (Bellamy and Williams 2010:94).

Warlordism is heavily associated with war economics. Berdal states that in both Liberia and Sierra Leone “a struggle among warlords for control of the state has carried with it substantial and direct economic benefits” (Berdal 2003:485). An example of this can be seen in the career of Liberian Charles Taylor who was estimated to have earned $.75 million US per year, between the years of 1990-94, through actions aided by the conflict situation (Berdal 2003:485).

This economic interest poses a significant challenge to peace operations; as such actors have an interest in the continuation of the conflict as seen in the Cambodian case of Ieng Sary. Keen explained one of the challenges in persuading key leaders in conflicts to a resolution is compromising so that those who were profiting from the continuation of the conflict are persuaded that they will continue to profit in peace (Keen2001:12). Thus there is a need for peace operations provide an incentive for these parties to move towards peace. However as “warlords are quite literally, businessmen of war, wielding violence as the main instrument of their economic activity” (Bredal 2003:485) chance of success of this persuasion.

Warlordism poses a significant challenge to peace operations through the between the warlords lack of legitimacy and the real influence such Warlords hold within conflict zones. Undertaking negotiations of peace with warlords creates further problems as it can add legitimacy to the warlord’s control (Bellamy and Williams 2010:200), giving legitimacy to a main cause of the conflict which the peace operation is trying to end.

Although there are many other challenges posed by warlordism, it is the invested interests of these different actors which pose significant challenge for peace operations.