How racial dynamics shape the workforce of international organizations
In short: Researchers examining UN peacekeeping found that international organizations can function as racialized institutions. Their analysis suggests that racial dynamics influence everything from job assignments and safety to how professional skills are valued within these global bodies.
The study introduces the concept of 'racialized IOs' by looking at how macro-level pressures from powerful white-majority states and micro-level pressures from individual employee stereotypes interact. By using UN peacekeeping as a case study, the researchers observed that non-white peacekeepers often perform more dangerous tasks and face constraints on their agency compared to white counterparts.
The findings also suggest that whiteness can serve as a proxy for desirable skills, while the knowledge of non-white peacekeepers may be devalued.
Why it matters: Race influences the internal operations and professional equity of global institutions.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Oksamytna and Billerbeck (2024). Race and International Organizations. International Studies Quarterly. · cc-by
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