UN Peace Keeping under Chapter VI: The legal basis for peacekeeping activity under a United Nations mandate.  Arts. 33-38 deal with the security Council’s role in the Pacific Settlement of Disputes and the process that parties to any dispute should follow, i.e.  first seek a solution by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice. Art. 36 entitles the Security Council to recommend, at any stage of dispute, appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. (UN Charter 1948)

UN Peace Keeping under Chapter VII: The legal basis for preventive deployments and peace enforcement actions by, or on the behalf of, the United Nations. Art. 39-51 of the United Nations Charter deals with coercive action with respect to threats of peace, breaches of peace, and acts of aggression. These articles form the legal basis for measures involving the used of armed forces (Art.41) to make effective the Security Council's decisions, and preventive or enforcement measures.(UN Charter 1948)

Unstable peace: A situation characterized by a general level of tension and suspicion among parties.  Aspects include diffuse political instability, uncertainty, distrust, and anomie; growing levels of systematic frustration; and increasing social and political cleavages along sectarian lines.  (Lund 1996: 149)