Amazon.com description: Product Description: This work focuses on the United Nations which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1995, half a century on from the end of the second world war. It examines the roles the UN has played in maintaining peace and the legal and practical problems faced in the operation of multi-national forces. In the light of the UN authorized coalition action in the 1990-1 Gulf conflict, in response to the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait, a new world order was confidently proclaimed. This order imposed greater demands upon the UN for peace-keeping operations, leaving the forces faced with diverse and potentially extended commitments not found in military operations by national or allied forces. The present situation of increasing demands upon the UN and the changing role of regional defence organizations leads to this study of the legal background and implications of UN military action for the restoration or maintenance of international peace and security. The first five chapters of this work examine the legal authority and basis for UN peacekeeping action and the final five chapters consider the law relating to the action of UN forces in the field.