The emerging consensus on grey area peace operations doctrine: Will it last and enhance operational effectiveness?

Abstract

The emerging doctrinal consensus on grey area operations doctrine will have a lasting impact on doctrinal thinking as it is theoretically sound and has been validated in practice and embraced by the UN and non‐NATO states. It will also enhance operational effectiveness on Western‐led operations, but the operational improvements will be relatively limited in scope unless the Western powers: (1) accept public security tasks as a military responsibility in the early stages of grey area operations and adjust training and the composition of grey area contingents accordingly; (2) devise ways to accomplish grey area missions with fewer personnel, thus overcoming the current ‘overkill’ tendency in force planning which helps to undermine political will in the West; and (3) do more to enable non‐Western states to meet the doctrinal requirements for success. This is all easier said than done, but essential in order to realize the full potential has for operational improvements.