A “Tranquilizing” Influence? British “Proto‐peacekeeping” in Ottoman Macedonia 1904–1905

Abstract

Peacekeeping is challenging. The United Nations era is most well known for its multilateral peacekeeping initiatives, but these were preceded by interventions by the Great Powers of Europe in parts of the Ottoman Empire such as Lebanon and Macedonia. The Mürzsteg Reform Program of 1903–1908 was one such multilateral operation by the Great Powers, which has largely been dismissed for its failure to bring peace and stability to Ottoman Macedonia. However, an apparent exception to the rule was the British patrolled sector, where the British “peacekeepers” managed to swiftly establish themselves in a position of authority and implement reforms. Even their physical presence was credited for providing a pacifying effect on the local population. The British success was in stark juxtaposition to the French, Italian, and Austrian sectors, where political and ethnic violence continued and “peacekeepers” faced physical obstruction and bureaucratic recalcitrance from the Ottoman authorities. The intent of this study is to examine British official reports and diplomatic correspondence to address the question of whether the British “proto‐peacekeeping” operation in Ottoman Macedonia was a truly a success and, if so, what factors can account for it.