PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT. AN ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGES, CHANGES IN COMMAND ACTION AND TRAINING NEEDS Ünsal SIĞRI Ufuk BAŞAR Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey The aim of this paper is to uncover emerging challenges of peacekeeping operations, determine the changes in command actions and its effects on the professional preparation of commanders by analyzing experiences of military officers. To that end the research data were collected by means of structured face- to-face interviews with voluntary participation of fourteen officers, who took charge in various peacekeeping operations. The collected data were analyzed based on the content analysis method. Findings indicate that peacekeeping operations pose specific challenges for peacekeepers, necessitate changes in command action in terms of flexibility and new precautions in terms of preparation of commanders. Key words: management, Peacekeeping operations, peacekeeper, command action. 1. INTRODUCTION The context of peacekeeping operations comprises impartial civilians, non governmental organizations, military organizations and warring factions, all of which together form a multi dimensional environment for military commanders as distinct from conventional warfare [1]. In a typical peacekeeping operation, missions are executed by diverse staff, usually who belong to different nationalities. Each mission comprises several tasks to be done in sometimes dangerous, usually challenging and generally unstable environments. Resources of the operations are usually scarce. Organizational procedures and regulations of different nations are frequently cumbersome. Usually it is difficult to synchronize the staff for a common goal, and that sometimes impedes the success. Therefore, any kind of emerging difficulties pertaining to peacekeeping operations force commanders to make changes in command actions and keep up with new challenges [2]. In this context the aim of this paper is to uncover emerging challenges of peacekeeping operations, determine the changes in command actions and its effects on the professional preparation of commanders by analyzing experiences of military officers, who took charge in various peacekeeping operations throughout the world. The importance of this research derives from its research topic, which was not studied before as far as we detected. While forming the theoretical framework, first of all the concept of peacekeeping operations was defined and its evolution process was explained. Following that, characteristics of peacekeeping operations management were described. Later on, collected data were analyzed based on the content analysis technique. Finally, findings are discussed and implications are emphasized. 2. PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS Peacekeeping operations are performed as a sort of peace support