Book Description

Since the end of the Cold War an increasing number of multinational peacekeeping operations have taken place in Europe, Africa and Asia. This new phase of multinational cooperation represents a step forward. This study focuses on the military and civilian aspects of the peacekeeping activity of the Nordic- Polish Brigade IFORISFOR (Implementation Forces/Stabilization Forces) in Bosnia. The deployment of the Nordic-Polish Brigade, composed of eight nations, including the five core nations of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian detachments, was intended to create a secure environment necessary for the work of humanitarian agencies. It also was to accomplish the non-military aspects of the agreement, within its capabilities and the limits imposed by military tasks. The civil-military activities in support of peace operations were new for NATO and for most, if not all, non-NATO countries as well. The threat in Bosnia to the peacekeepers was real. This thesis analyses different challenges which the peacekeeping forces of the Nordic-Polish Brigade faced in Bosnia. This example of multinational cooperation is now followed by other military enterprises as the South Eastern European Brigade located in Bulgaria. The Nordic-Polish Brigade is an example of successful multinational cooperation between countries with different military and cultural backgrounds.