Military Intervention and Peacekeeping: The Reality

This work represents the author's writing and thinking over the last decade on the subject of military intervention and peacekeeping. He deconstructs what has been developed under the auspices of UN "peacekeeping" with a view to producing a new paradigm more appropriate to the challenges of the 21st century. This is not an exercise in disparaging the UN, the organization's achievements are recognized, along with its prevalent habit of entering environments it has neither the resources or expertise to manage. The first four chapters establish a foundation built upon philosophy, doctrine, definitions, principles and decision-making processes. This thinking is then tested using scenarios drawn from Iraq, Somalia, Rwanda, Kosovo, East Timor and Sierra Leone. The book is founded on theory and practice and it is particularly intended to explain the conduct of the political and military processes involved in military intervention and peacekeeping.