Peacekeeping in a divided world, 1964 to 1989

During the Cold War the Security Council was often blocked by the veto, but UN peacekeepers still went into some of the world's most dangerous places. Their record was mixed.

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Peacekeeping missions

Cyprus (from 1964): UN forces were sent to keep Greek and Turkish Cypriots apart; they are still there.
Middle East: at Egypt's request the UN force in Sinai withdrew in May 1967, weeks before the Six-Day War. A new force was sent after the war of 1973.
Lebanon (from 1978): UNIFIL was sent after Israel invaded southern Lebanon in 1978, but it could not stop Israel invading again in 1982.

The veto and the superpowers

When a permanent member's own interests were at stake, its veto blocked the Security Council.
After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (December 1979), the USSR vetoed action, so the General Assembly could only call for withdrawal.
UN-brokered Geneva Accords (1988) led to the Soviet withdrawal, completed in February 1989.

Successes as the Cold War ended

Iran-Iraq War (1980 to 1988): Security Council Resolution 598 (1987) demanded a ceasefire; both sides accepted it in 1988, and UN observers monitored it.
In 1988 UN peacekeeping forces were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
As the Cold War ended, the superpowers cooperated more, and the UN helped bring independence to Namibia (1989 to 1990).
Worked example

Explain why the UN could do little about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

  1. The USSR was a permanent member of the Security Council.
  2. It used its veto to block any Security Council action.
  3. So only the General Assembly could act, and it could only call for withdrawal, not enforce it.

Answer: The Soviet veto blocked the Security Council, leaving the General Assembly able only to make demands it could not enforce.

Key idea

Peacekeeping: Cyprus (from 1964), Sinai force withdrawn (May 1967), new force after 1973, UNIFIL in Lebanon (from 1978) unable to stop the 1982 invasion. The veto blocked action on Afghanistan (1979); Geneva Accords (1988), Soviet withdrawal by February 1989. Resolution 598 (1987) ended the Iran-Iraq War (1988). Nobel Peace Prize for peacekeepers (1988).

Key words
Peacekeeping
Using lightly armed UN forces, usually with the agreement of both sides, to keep enemies apart and supervise ceasefires.
Security Council
The UN body responsible for peace, where the five permanent members each have a veto.
Veto
The power to block a decision, held by each of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

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Extra practice

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  1. Which two communities did UNFICYP keep apart in Cyprus?

    1. Britons and French
    2. Arabs and Jews
    3. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots
    4. Serbs and Croats
    Show the answer

    Answer: Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots

    The force has been there since 1964.

  2. Which UN force was in Sinai before 1967?

    1. UNIFIL
    2. UNEF, the UN Emergency Force
    3. UNFICYP
    4. UNTAG
    Show the answer

    Answer: UNEF, the UN Emergency Force

    It was set up after Suez in 1956.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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