Peacekeeping as Foreign Policy

What is it about?

The aim of this article is to determine Portugal´s motives for participating in PKO, a costly and hazardous venture, especially for a small country with limited resources. I argue that Portugal’s involvement in peacekeeping stems from the belief of policy-makers that such activities promote the country’s national interests by enhancing its influence in key international fora, such as the UN.

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Why is it important?

This article accounts for a small state´s contribution to PKO. It highlights how small nations are willing to risk their blood and treasure in complex and dangerous peacekeeping missions for some widely different reasons, namely by giving them increased international credibility and clout within the UN, and helping them to promote key foreign policy objectives.