This book investigates the effectiveness of United Nations military operations in protecting civilians from violence during peacekeeping missions. The author, Stian Kjeksrud, utilizes his expertise in security studies to analyze a comprehensive dataset of 200 operations across ten UN missions in Africa. By evaluating these specific interventions between 1999 and 2017, the work provides a systematic framework for understanding how military force is applied to prevent civilian harm in complex conflict environments.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of peacekeeping efficacy due to its rigorous empirical approach. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those studying international security and humanitarian intervention.