Beyond Borders: The role of the Netherlands Army in public security during crisis management operations

At the beginning of a crisis management operation, the international community is often confronted with a poorly functioning or absent local police force. Within the chaos that reigns over the crisis area, an inadequate police force is a prelude to an explosive growth of crime and public order problems. The question then arises who could deal with these problems. In the absence of a local police force the only alternative at hand is that the military temporarily intervene as interim police, an activity that is not only beyond the primary tasks of the military but that is also likely to meet resistance of the troops. On the basis of relevant police literature, this thesis has investigated and analysed how the Royal Army of the Netherlands has contributed to improving public order and security during crisis management operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq. The thesis draws the conclusion that, although the army did do interim policing during these missions, these tasks were only to a limited extent institutionalised in the organisational and operational concepts of the army. This means that the army to some extent ignore a reality typifying contemporary crisis management operations, namely that public order and security need to be restored quickly to ensure that the civilian reconstruction process can begin and be completed successfully. Subject: Criminology, Policing, Security Studies, Military Studies]