Retaining Flexibility

Abstract Although UN peace operations began with unarmed observer missions in 1948–1949, the first armed force—the Emergency Force ( UNEF )—was deployed 1956 due to Suez crisis. Scholars and practitioners have since interpreted Secretariat’s 1958 study of that experience, called Summary Study , as a foundational text history peacekeeping because it supposedly codified key principles impartiality, nonuse force, consent. But much ’s origin story is inaccurate or unknown. By explaining Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld’s intentions for study, well how those changed, this article argues far from “codifying” principles, did opposite: ensured future would continue on an ad hoc, flexible basis permitted Member States exercise wide range discretion determining conduct operations.