This fascinating study examines the dynamic process through which the Clinton administration developed a policy towards UN peace support operations. The author addresses the fundamental question: what factors influenced the shift in US policy towards the United Nations and its peace support operations and which factors were clearly dominant?

Based on primary sources and interviews with political personalities and officials, the author examines four main factors which shaped the development of policy: the Executive branch, the bureaucracies (the State Department and Department of Defense), Congress and public opinion. These provide the basis for the core chapters of the book, which also contains a chapter on methodology and a chapter of summary analysis.