UNPKO: Structure and Process

An understanding of the structure, principles of engagement, doctrinal and financial aspects of UNPKO is important in order to understand the background of Malaysia’s UNPKO, its national defence policy and the related domestic decision-making hierarchy and processes. Upon the examination of Malaysia’s foreign policy stance vis-a-vis UNPKO, classified according to specific themes of Malaysia’s foreign policy orientations, this chapter offers general pointers of key principles which underpin the authorization, operation and management of a UNPKO and, consequently, that of Malaysia. This chapter argues that Malaysian foreign policy was markedly dictated by systemic pressures. Accordingly, Malaysia’s foreign policy stances, in general, during the Cold War era were inherently pro-West and anti-Communist before it was distinctively moderated by its neutrality stance and later by its globalization stance, especially in the post-Cold War era. This chapter concludes that these stances influenced Malaysia’s participation in UNPKO so much that the pattern of Malaysia’s UNPKO shows the dynamism and pragmatism of its behaviour on the international stage.