working draft manual

The document provides a comprehensive framework for Peace Support Operations (PSOs), distinguishing between peacekeeping and peace enforcement. It emphasizes the necessity of a political mandate, the role of impartiality, and the strategic use of both 'carrots' (consent-promoting techniques) and 'sticks' (coercion). The manual details the roles of international bodies like the UN and OAU, the importance of civil-military coordination, and the specific capabilities of joint forces (land, air, and sea) in stabilizing conflict zones to facilitate a self-sustaining peace.

• Peace Support Operations (PSOs) are defined as multifunctional military activities intended to create a secure environment that allows civilian agencies to establish a self-sustaining peace.
• A critical distinction is made between peacekeeping, which relies on the consent of all parties and limits force to self-defence, and peace enforcement, which is coercive and used when consent is uncertain or absent.
• The manual argues that traditional peacekeeping doctrine is inadequate for modern 'grey area' operations, which often involve substate actors, warlords, and the collapse of state institutions.
• Success in a PSO is measured by the achievement of a political endstate—where conflicts are no longer solved by force—rather than solely by the attainment of military objectives.
• The 'principled impartiality' of a force is essential for maintaining trust and consent; if a force is perceived as partial, it may become a party to the conflict, ending its status as a PSO.
• The use of force in PSOs must follow the principle of 'minimum necessary force,' meaning it is proportionate, limited to legitimate targets, and designed to resolve crises without causing excessive collateral damage.
• Effective PSOs require a 'composite response' that synchronizes military, diplomatic, and humanitarian efforts, often involving a wide array of actors including the UN, OAU, regional bodies (ECOWAS, SADC), and NGOs.
• The manual advocates for a 'manoeuvrist approach' and 'mission command,' which provides subordinate commanders with the flexibility to achieve an intent (the 'what' and 'why') rather than following overly prescriptive orders.
• Conflict prevention is identified as a more cost-effective strategy than conflict management, utilizing tools such as early warning, surveillance, and security sector reform.
• The process of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) is a long-term transition activity that requires a secure environment and economic alternatives to prevent a return to violence.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2000). working draft manual. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-1999-PeaceSupportOperations.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. working draft manual. 2000. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-1999-PeaceSupportOperations.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=working draft manual |date=February 2000 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-1999-PeaceSupportOperations.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2000working, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{working draft manual}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2000}, month = feb, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Handbooks-1999-PeaceSupportOperations.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }