Peace operations create the potential for culturally‐based problems in interactions among different organizational actors and with local populations. Because it is impossible to catalog all of the different groups and cultures that may participate in peace operations, it is necessary to develop a general approach to culture and peacekeeping. The author presents a view of culture as a model for understanding and action, and describes some ways in which cultural models are manifest. Specific cultural differences between military and humanitarian participants in peace operations are discussed, as are areas of potential cultural concern for interaction with local populations. Suggestions about approaching these cross‐cultural considerations are offered.

Four major considerations involving cultural issues and pre‐negotiation were discussed at this session. They are: how language serves as a method for accessing culture; how and by whom interventions might take place; social identity and the sources of distinctions among people; and methodological challenges posed by cross‐cultural issues. The essay concludes with a series of questions for future researchers which emerged from the discussion at the session.