During the period of the Cold War, the risk of global nuclear confrontation posed the most significant threat to international security. Not surprisingly, analysis and discussion tended to focus around the potential catalysts for major interstate conflict. Whilst nuclear proliferation remains a matter for concern, there has since the end of the Cold War emerged a number of new and more pressing threats to international peace.1 Moreover, the focus has changed somewhat from interstate issues to those of an intrastate nature. Accordingly, this chapter will concentrate on intrastate disputes and discuss their potential effect on international peace and security.
The reasons behind inappropriate military action could be that neither the security problems within domestic states nor the management of the interrelationships between states are as well understood as they should be. This criticism is equally applicable to political and military commander alike. The changing nature of military operations commensurate with the increased commitment to UN activities now requires that military commanders be well versed in ethnicity, history, and cultural factors.