Managing Violent Crises: Swedish Peacekeeping and the 2004 Ethnic Violence in Kosovo

Abstract

This article analyses the devastating ethnic ‘riots’ in Kosovo in March 2004. By focusing on the response of the Swedish military, it concludes that peacekeepers must be more adequately prepared to counter the types of crises that arise in countries emerging from conflict. In particular, units must cultivate readiness for worst-case scenarios and train to curb violence involving large numbers of civilians.