Author: Artur O. Bilski

Publisher:

Published: 2001-03-01

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13: 9781423530978

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.