Kategorie i typy operacji pokojowych

On the background of contemporary international peace missions system and characteristics of trends dominating in it, the article presents an analysis and comparison of the most important terms used to define peace operations (terms used in UN and NATO documents, in American, Canadian, British and Russian rules). Ascertaining the lack of one uniform definition of peace operations, the author attempts to define this notion in general, stressing these characteristics of peace operations which differentiate them from any other intervention actions. Then, using the criterion of the possibility to use force, the author distinguishes four categories of peace operations: mediation and observation; military presence; strengthened military presence and military intervention.