| What are the roles and responsibilities of security forces in the transition from civil war to a peaceful and stable society? Focusing on security issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina immediately following the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, I examine the actions of international and local security forces and their effect on transitions from military force to civilian policing and the transfer of responsibilities from international forces to local forces. I divided the case study into three periods, consistent with identifiable operational changes in the international military mission: (a) Operation Joint Endeavour from December 1995 to December 1996, (b) Operation Joint Guard from December 1996 to June 1998, and (c) Operation Joint Forge from June 1998 to June 2000. The requirement for immediate deployment of a strong international policing component and a full spectrum of security capabilities to prevent a security or enforcement gap and to address civil violence is illustrated, as is the effect of police reform and restructuring on the transition process. Notwithstanding the imperative for the cessation of armed combat, the case study shows that international security forces' greatest value in post-civil war environments is in supporting the establishment of rule of law. |
