From Peacekeeping to Crisis Management: Finland during the Cold War

Finland participated in most UN peacekeeping operations starting in 1956, a role it retained throughout the Cold War. The transition to post–Cold War operations of crisis management, which introduced elements of peace enforcement and a variety of different missions, meant that Finland had to adapt to the new circumstances and change its legislation. The arguments used in the Finnish debate to defend participation in traditional peacekeeping and those introduced in favor of wider crisis management were broadly similar. Finland took part in several post-Cold War peace operations, building on its extensive record during the Cold War.