Official history of peacekeeping, humanitarian and post–Cold War operations Volume Two

Volume II: Australia and the “New World Order”: from peacekeeping to peace enforcement, 1988–1991

Published: 2011

This volume of the Official history of Australian peacekeeping, humanitarian and post-Cold War operations is the first comprehensive study of Australia's role in the peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations that developed at the end of the Cold War.

Recounting vital missions, it covers the commitment of the Australian Army engineers to Namibia in 1989 to establish the election conditions for a new nation. It examines the difficulties experienced by Australian military observers in Iran (1988-90) following the Iran-Iraq War, and also explains what happened to the mine clearance instructors who worked in Pakistan and Afghanistan (1989-93) This important volume has a strong focus on Australia’s reaction to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, including its maritime interception operations and its controversial participation in the 1991 Gulf War.

With access to all relevant Australian government records and extensive interviews with participants, David Horner examines the high-level political background to these activities and analyses the conduct of the missions. In so doing, he brings to life the little-known, yet remarkable stories of many individuals who took part in peacekeeping operations from 1988-91.

Australia and the "New World Order" is an authoritative, comprehensive and compelling history of how members of the Australian Defence Force engaged with the world at a crucial time in international affairs.