ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan
On 15 April 2026, UNRCCA hosted an online session for the 2026 Cohort of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy (PDA). The session focused on the historical evolution of international efforts to prevent war, tracing the path from the establishment of the League of Nations after the First World War to the creation and ongoing work of the United Nations.
The session brought together PDA participants from all five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. They explored the challenges of conflict prevention within a system of sovereign states and reflected on how lessons from past institutional shortcomings continue to shape approaches to collective security, peacekeeping, and preventive diplomacy today.
Andriy Larin, Political Affairs Officer at UNRCCA, delivered a presentation on the experiences of the League of Nations and the United Nations. He emphasized that, “The League of Nations taught the world that good intentions are not enough without political will and effective mechanisms. The United Nations was built on those lessons, with the understanding that prevention, dialogue, and early political engagement remain the most effective tools for sustaining peace.”
In the first part of the session, participants traced the origins of collective security, starting from early ideas on international cooperation to the First World War, which underscored the urgent need for conflict prevention. They examined the League of Nations as the first permanent peace institution, considering its achievements and structural weaknesses—particularly its inability to enforce collective security.
The second part focused on the establishment of the United Nations, emphasizing how the UN Charter reinforced mechanisms for international peace and security while integrating lessons learned from the League of Nations.
Participants explored the evolution of UN peacekeeping operations, guided by the principles of consent, impartiality, and the restrained use of force. The session also covered enforcement measures mandated by the Security Council.
The session concluded by reaffirming a core message: early-stage preventive diplomacy and political dialogue are vital for averting conflicts. The discussion highlighted the essential role of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), Special Political Missions, and regional offices such as UNRCCA in transforming historical lessons into practical tools for addressing emerging tensions before they escalate.
A moderated question-and-answer segment gave participants the opportunity to exchange views on historical lessons, contemporary challenges, and the enduring relevance of preventive diplomacy in today’s global and regional contexts.
