Crisis and decision : New Zealand and the Persian Gulf War, 1990/1991 : an analysis of the decision by New Zealand to contribute military forces to the multi-national force

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Political Science
Degree name
Master of Arts
Publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2002
Authors
Cudworth, Antony John
Abstract

On 2 August 1990 Iraq invaded and occupied the Emirate of Kuwait, setting in motion a chain of events that led to the largest military build up since the Second World War. These events, which have come to be known as the Persian Gulf Crisis and War of 1990/91 provide an important background for the analysis of New Zealand's 'decision' to provide military personnel to the multi-national force being assembled in the Gulf in December 1990. Unlike many of its traditional friends and allies New Zealand had not been invited to join the United States sponsored coalition and military force due to the strained relationship that had existed between New Zealand and the United States since the ANZUS dispute of the mid- 1980s. However, membership was not contingent upon an 'invitation' and New Zealand came under pressure from domestic and external sources to join the coalition, which it did so in December 1990. It is argued that this decision was possibly the catalyst for a significant improvement in the New Zealand-United States relationship and lead to a much more active international role for New Zealand in the following decade.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Persian Gulf War, 1991--Participation, New Zealand, Iraq-Kuwait Crisis, 1990-1991, New Zealand--Foreign relations--1945-, New Zealand--Foreign relations--United States, United States--Foreign relations--New Zealand, New Zealand--Politics and government--1972-
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
All Rights Reserved