Authority under Pressure: Syria, the United Nations, and the Contestation of Legitimacy in Peacebuilding

Sammanfattning

The emergence of alternative actors in peacebuilding has raised questions about the legitimacy of the United Nations in contemporary peacebuilding. This essay examines: Did the emergence of the Astana Process Challenge the Legitimacy of UN Peacebuilding? Drawing on a qualitative discourse analysis, the study analyzes Syria's and France's statements made to the UN Security Council from 2012-2021. Legitimacy is conceptualized as a relational and discursive phenomenon, and measured through discursive instrumentalization of UN symbols. The findings reveal a clear post-Astana shift, where Syria increasingly contests UN legitimacy from within the UN framework, whereas France moves towards more strategic expressions, leveraging UN legitimacy to justify state action. Our results are then complemented with a qualitative research interview with Björn Brenner, former principal Military Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria. The results from the discourse analysis and insights from the interview are then compiled, analysed and elaborated on in a discussion. We draw the conclusion that the shift in discourse correlates with the emergence of the Astana Process. However, a causation is not definite.