Peacekeeping, humanitarian and post–Cold War operations

In 2004 the Australian Government authorised the Australian War Memorial to research and write a six-volume Official History of Australian peacekeeping, humanitarian and post–Cold War operations between 1947 and 2006.  During that time at least 30,000 Australian peacekeepers took part in over 50 operations, in more than two-dozen theatres of conflict around the world, as well as a similar number of disaster-relief operations.

This important document of Australians in peacekeeping represented a world-first: the first official history of a nation's complete peacekeeping record.

The Australian operations in Afghanistan (2001-2014) and Iraq (2003-2011) and peacekeeping operations in East Timor (1999-2012) are being covered in a separate multi-volume official history series.

The history is official only in the sense it has government support and that the team had access to all relevant government records. What the historians write are not subject to censorship of any kind, except for reasons of national security.

Professor David Horner of the Australian National University was appointed official historian and general editor of the series. The history was a joint project of the Australian War Memorial and the Australian National University. It series has been financially made possible by the Australian Government Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Research Council.

Volumes

The Official History of Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post–Cold War Operations was published by Cambridge University Press and appeared in six volumes. 

Volume 1: The Long Search for Peace: Observer Missions and Beyond: 1947-2006 was written by Dr Peter Londey, formerly of the Australian War Memorial and later at the Australian National University, Professor David Horner of the Australian National University and Dr Rhys Crawley, formerly of the Australian national University.  It covers peacekeeping missions that began between 1947 and 1987, including Indonesia, Kashmir, the Middle East, the Congo, Cyprus, and Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. This volume was published in 2020.
 

Volume 2: Australia and the ‘New World Order’: From Peacekeeping to Peace Enforcement, 1988–1991 was written by Professor David Horner.  It covers peacekeeping missions that began between 1988 and 1991 including Namibia, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf and includes the first Gulf War. This volume was published in 2011.
 

Volume 3: The Good International Citizen: Australian Peacekeeping in Asia, Africa and Europe, 1991–1993 was written by Professor David Horner and Dr John Connor, formerly of the Australian War Memorial and later at the University of New South Wales (Australian Defence Force Academy).  It covers peacekeeping missions that began in 1991, including Iraq (humanitarian operations, sanctions, and weapons inspection) Cambodia, Western Sahara and former Yugoslavia. This volume was published in 2014.
 

Volume 4: The Limits of Peacekeeping: Australian Missions in Africa and the Americas, 1992-2005 was written by Dr Jean Bou of the Australian National University, Dr Bob Breen of Deakin University, Professor David Horner, Dr Garth Pratten of the Australian National University and Ms Miesje de Vogel, then of the Australian National University. It covers peacekeeping missions from 1992 to 2005 including Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Haiti, Guatemala, Ethiopia/Eritrea and Sierra Leone. This volume was published in 2019.
 

Volume 5: The Good Neighbour: Australian peace support operations in the Pacific Islands, 1980–2006 was written by Dr Bob Breen formerly of the Australian National University and later of Deakin University.  It covers peacekeeping missions in the Pacific region from 1980 to 2006, including Bougainville, Solomon Islands, and other deployments. This volume was published in 2016.
 

Volume 6: In Their Time of Need: Australian overseas emergency relief operations, 1918–2006 was written by Dr Steven Bullard of the Australian War Memorial.  It covers overseas emergency relief operations, including Papua New Guinea, Sumatra, Pakistan, Iran, and various Pacific nations.  This volume was published in 2017.