Katharina P. Coleman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia.

• 1. Introduction; 2. States, international organisations, and legitimacy: a theoretical framework; 3. Peace enforcement through sub-regional organisations: the economic community of West African states and operation liberty in Liberia; 4. Peace enforcement through sub-regional organisations: the Southern African development community and operation sovereign legitimacy in the democratic Republic of Congo; 5. Peace enforcement through sub-regional organisations: the Southern African development community and operation boleas in Lesotho; 6. Peace enforcement through a military alliance: the north atlantic treaty organization and operation allied force in Kosovo; 7. Peace enforcement through a global organisation: the United Nations and INTERFET in East Timor; Epilogue: UN intervention in Lebanon.

'In terms of its organization, sophistication and use of detail to illuminate a big and important question, this book is a model of how it should be done. It provides a comprehensive and compelling answer to the question it addresses … an important contribution to our understanding of peace enforcement and the relationship between states and international organizations more generally.' International Affairs