Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the relations between states and the secretariats, and how they affect the politics of multinational military operations. It shows how member states deal with this problem by analyzing the question: how do the member states of international organizations control international secretariats in the area of military affairs. The book provides powerful illustrations of the different control mechanisms and trade-offs. It studies Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) International Staff, and the European External Action Service (EEAS). The book analyzes the politics of institutional development of the United Nations (UN), NATO, and European Union (EU) secretariats. It discusses why states may delegate tasks to secretariats in the area of security affairs. The military planning of the NATO mission in Libya was marked by military doctrine and standard operating procedures.