OSCE CRISIS
MANAGEMENT AND
SMALL STATES
6 December 2016
OSCE
 definition of civilian actor, no military capacities
 57 member states, largest security org.
 approximately 3500 international staff in the field
and HQ
 CSCE transformation through the 1990s 1995,
perceived impartiality is a strong positive
 focus on:
 preventing crises and providing security solutions in
ongoing crises to fill security deficit areas and support
arms control
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CSCE/OSCE – three
dimensions/baskets
 Security
 Arms control, conflict prevention, military reform,
border management, monitoring
 Rule of law
 Democratization, anti-trafficking, election
monitoring, media freedom, gender
 Economy and environment
 Energy security, development and ecology
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OSCE crisis management instruments
 Multidimentional
 3 dominant dimensions of OSCE CM:
 Security (Political-Military)
 Preventive diplomacy, confidence and trust building measures,
impartial analysis, arms control
 Human rights
 Promotion of HR, tolerance, rule of law, democratization,
development, monitoring elections, supporting free press
 Economic
 Supporting development, security, good governance,
cooperation, post-conflict rehabilitation
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OSCE crisis management
 Emphasis on prevention and early political
engagement in the conflict cycle
 1990 - Conflict Prevention Centre
 first of its kind
 provides early warning, but also negotiation,
mediation, cooperation support and impartial
resolution capacities
 civilian experts deployed in earliest phases of
crises (security provided by stature)
 also serves as DPKO
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OSCE crisis management
 Gets “invited” due to perceived impartiality and
multidimensional nature
 Focused purely internally – distinct “local advantage”
 Wavering focus, dependent upon chairmanship and
topic-of-the-year
 Lacks the power to impose solutions
 Non-binding resolutions
 Processes are voluntary
 Missions require constant consensus
 Declining budget (151mil USD)
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OSCE field operations
 Approximately 800 personnel deployed outside
of permanent field workers, highly fluctuates
 Southeastern Europe
 Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Skopje, BiH
 Eastern Europe
 Moldova, Ukraine
 South Caucasus
 Baku, Yerevan
 Central Asia
 Ashgabat, Astana, Bishkek, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
2016: http://www.osce.org/cpc/74783?download=true
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OSCE Ukraine example
 Special monitoring mission
 Independent fact-based monitoring and reporting,
implementation of Minsk agreements
 Project coordinator
 Government assistance in crisis management, stabilization, and
continuation of democratization
 Observer mission at Russian checkpoints
 at Russia’s request on Russian border
 Freedom of media representative, Minorities commissioner,
ODIHR election monitoring, OSCE Secretary general mediation
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