Cross-Cultural decision-making in international peacekeeping operations

Taking as its starting point the increasingly non-Western nature of contemporary peacekeeping operations, this chapter considers how cultural differences can influence the decision-making of soldiers in-theatre. Based on a quantitative analysis of 241 Indonesian and 83 French peacekeepers deployed in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the chapter demonstrates how individuals are better at thinking and making decisions in their native cultural style during operations. In line with this data, the authors contend that centres for peacekeeping training must shape curricula around psychological training on decision-making and cross-cultural competencies.