Using regime theory and case studies, "Hegemonic prerogative and change in the peacekeeping regime" examines the role and sources of US influence over Security Council decision-making "vis-a-vis" the launch and mandate adjustment of United Nations peacekeeping operations. The findings suggest that US peacekeeping policy in the 1990s was increasingly driven by domestic politics that encouraged a conservative stance on peacekeeping issues. This conservative stance led to the USA consistently pushing for smaller missions or non-UN operations, which would reduce Washington's financial responsibilities, yet enhance its influence over the operation. To achieve its aims, Washington directed its diplomatic efforts at the decision-making component of the peacekeeping regime, which is embodied in the Security Council. The net result of this dynamic was an inversion in the planning process for peacekeeping operations in that the resources authorised for the operation were often set it isolation from the mission's objectives and local circumstances