The Case for 'Trust' as a Key Soft Skill for Peacekeepers
Citation:
Holohan, Anne (and Sara Singleton), The Case for 'Trust' as a Key Soft Skill for Peacekeepers, Journal of International Peacekeeping, 21, 2019, 224 - 225Abstract:
This article uses the case study of the unifil mission in South Lebanon to explore the
role of trust in facilitating or obstructing inter-organizational cooperation and local
ownership in a traditional UN peacekeeping mission. Peacekeeping is distinct from
many other forms of military engagement in the level of cooperation it requires, not
only between different national military contingents, but between militaries and international
police and civilian staff, personnel from local institutions and municipalities,
and local communities. This article argues that the inter-organizational cooperation
necessary for effective interoperability will not happen unless there is trust between
the militaries working together. Equally, local ownership is not possible unless local
populations trust peacekeepers to be impartial. However, this soft skill – awareness of
the role of trust and how to engender it – is not included in pre-deployment training
for military personnel. We outline the soft skill of ‘trust awareness’, including a typology
of trust relevant for peacekeeping, and ‘trust mechanics’- practical actions and
behaviors that foster trust.
URI:
https://brill.com/abstract/journals/joup/21/3-4/article-p224_224.xmlhttp://hdl.handle.net/2262/89008
Sponsor
Grant Number
European Commission
700670
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/aholohanDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: Holohan, Anne
Type of material:
Journal ArticleURI:
https://brill.com/abstract/journals/joup/21/3-4/article-p224_224.xmlhttp://hdl.handle.net/2262/89008
Collections
Series/Report no:
Journal of International Peacekeeping21
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Peacekeeping, Conflict resolution, Trust, militarySubject (TCD):
Inclusive Society , International Development , International Integration , peacekeepingMetadata
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