Can We Call It a Culture of a Peace Operation? Case Study of Slovenian and Italian Armed Forces

Abstract

The following article does not discuss various aspects of international cooperation on the political and strategic levels but considers the challenge of cross-cultural cooperation among service members in the field. Cooperation in a culturally diverse environment is influenced by various cultures and identifications (the national culture, military organizational culture, social identities). Based on the presumption that the culture is manifested through the values, rituals, symbols, practices, and language, the thesis about the existence of peace operations’ culture was tested. The main research questions were: (a) how are national and military cultures manifested in a peace operation?; (b) does the culture of a peace operation exist?; and (c) do service members of various nationalities identify themselves with a peace operation? The study was conducted among Italian and Slovenian service members deployed to at least one peace operation. The results show that a peace operation develops practices, values, symbols, rituals, and a common language. Hence we can speak of a peace operation’s culture. The service members’ identification with the peace operation is strong during the deployment; however, sources of identification vary depending on one’s position in the peace operation (i.e., national unit, multi-national HQ). Service members in HQs develop a strong sense of belonging to the multi-national working team, while the main source of common identity for bigger national units is the local environment.