New Missions, Old Problems

Military commanders and their soldiers have been asked over the last ten years to tackle a wider range of missions than most were prepared for during the cold war era. Soldiers, and sailors too, are today engaged in operations variously termed peacekeeping, peace support operations, humanitarian operations, and traditional combat missions in a variety of circumstances and environments. In most cases they have adopted to these missions very well, employing inventive ways to deal with situations short of combat, the arrival of non-governmental organizations in the defence and security arena, and the demand that military personnel assume civil duties in support of governments. Nevertheless, they have also come to understand that the old problems of men at war and people in conflict still demand the application and reinforcement of customary and proven ways to accomplish these new missions. This volume explores these intricate relationships, illustrating how armed forces integrate new methods with proven procedures and tactics.

Contributors include Christopher Ankersen (London School of Economics), Ann M. Fitz-Gerald (Department of Defence Management & Security Analysis, Cranfield University), Henning A. Frantzen (The Norwegian Military Academy), Michael Hallett (University of Toronto), Yuko Kurashina (University of Maryland), Paul Molinaro (Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University,United Kingdom), Derrick J. Neal (Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University, United Kingdom), and Dion E. Phillips (University of the Virgin Islands).