Peacekeepers And Their Wives, Vol. 147

David and Mady Segal analyze the adaptation of American soldiers assigned to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Desert in support of the Camp David Accords, in the context of the evolution of multinational peacekeeping forces as mechanisms for achieving international security. The reactions of soldiers and their wives to the peacekeeping assignment are considered from the perspective of the social construction of reality, in which the role of the military has been defined as war-fighting. The press has ignored peacekeeping until very recently, and it falls to military organizations, to soldiers and their families, to make sense of the mission. Lessons learned from the Sinai MFO experience should be used to help U.S. troops better prepare for their increasing role in multinational peacekeeping.

Segal analyzes the adaptation of American soldiers assigned to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFP) in the Sinai Desert in support of the Camp David Accords.

DAVID R. SEGAL is Professor of Sociology and of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland.

MADY WECHSLER SEGAL is Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland.