Cultural Challenges in Military Operations

Author(s): Tibor Szvircsev Tresch, Nicasia Picciano, Michael Firlie, Ljubica Jelušic, Claude Weber, Saïd Haddad, Ferenc Molnár, Faisal Al-Rfouh, Efrat Elron, Saleh Al-Zu'bi, Rachid El Houdaïgui, Orit Shalev, Jörg Keller, Maren Tomforde, René Moelker, Schelte van Ruiten, Delphine Resteigne, Joseph Soeters, Yantsislav Yanakiev, Stefan Seiler, Anthony King, Kobi Michael
Editor(s): Tibor Szvircsev Tresch, Cees Coops
Book Title: Cultural Challenges in Military Operations
Series: NDC Occasional Paper
Issue: 23
Publisher(s): NDC
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Place: Rome

This publication includes papers presented at a NATO Defense College conference aiming to advance understanding in multinational forces during operations. The authors discuss different military cultures and forms of cooperation and address the issue of cultural interoperability and mission effectiveness in multinational forces. It examines educational and leadership aspects and looks at peacekeeping experiences from Mediterranean countries and the Middle East. Case studies from military missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon are also presented. The main problems identified include prejudices, a lack of appropriate preparation of units and language expertise, and the differences in military traditions, systems and leadership styles.