Speaker: Prabin Khadka, Assistant Professor, the University of Essex 

Title: Can Peacekeepers Reduce Out-Group Discrimination? Evidence from a Field Experiment in South Sudan

Abstract: Can direct exposure to UN peacekeeping patrols reduce inter-group discrimination and build the social foundations for lasting peace? We theorize that peacekeepers attenuate discriminatory attitudes and behaviors by altering security perceptions, reshaping inter-group expectations, and enabling cross-ethnic interactions. To test this, we implement a first-of-its-kind RCT in Juba, South Sudan, embedding active UN patrols into structured civilian sessions. We randomly assign 14 groups (each group with 12 participants stratified by ethnicity, gender and age) to treatment sessions with direct UN patrol interaction or 16 groups of control sessions without exposure. We use three incentivized behavioral games, a group task, and an individual survey to measure changes in altruism, intergroup trust, collective action, and confidence towards peace policies stipulated in the Revitalized Peace Agreement. This study moves beyond the traditional focus on peacekeeping’s security and stability outputs to experimentally identify whether peacekeeper exposure can foster the micro-level social cohesion necessary for sustained peace in divided societies.