Social Science and Human Research Bulletin

The study investigated the September 11attack and the challenges of peacekeeping in the 21st century with particular reference to the U.S-led coalition of the willing in Iraq in 2003. The study addressed how the September 11 attacks transformed global security, placing counter-terrorism at the centre of international operations. This change challenged traditional peacekeeping principles of neutrality, consent, and limited force. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq exemplifies the resulting tensions between unilateral security strategies and established peacekeeping norms. The objectives of the study were to examine how the September 11 attacks influenced global security strategies and reshaped the conduct of international peacekeeping operations in the twenty-first century, and to analyse the motivations and strategic justifications behind the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States-led Coalition of the Willing during the Iraq War. The study adopted the Realist Theory propounded by Morgenthau in 1948. The study utilized descriptive research design and applied secondary sources of data. Data were sourced from books, peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports, and academic publications that examined the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Iraq War, as well as the transformation of peacekeeping operations. Additional sources comprised official reports and documents from international organisations such as the United Nations, government publications from the United States and allied states, and reports produced by international policy institutions and research organisations. The study found that the September 11 attacks shifted global security focus toward counter-terrorism, forcing peacekeeping missions to operate in unstable areas with armed non-state groups. This change challenged traditional rules of neutrality and limited force, requiring peacekeepers to take on more complex roles. The study recommended that international peacekeeping operations should include counter-terrorism measures while continuing to respect major principles such as neutrality, human rights, and cooperation through multilateral institutions like the United Nations to remain credible and effective in unstable conflict areas.

Iraq; U.S., Peace-keeping, Terrorism, Counter-terrorism

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