Book Review: Michael R. Sanchez, "Four Years with the United Nations"

When Mike informed me about his book chronicling his journey as a United Nations Police Officer (UNPOL), I wasted no time in securing a copy. Having shared a peacekeeping experience with Mike during our deployment in Haiti and our work in Les Cayes (March-April 2010), I anticipated that the book would serve as a poignant reminder of my own time as a peacekeeper. True to my expectations, the book proved to be a nostalgic journey.

"Four Years with the United Nations" offers a first-person narrative of the author's tenure in Kosovo (2005-2008) and Haiti (2009-2010) as a UNPOL officer. In story telling style, Sanchez recounts his recruitment, deployment, and assimilation into both missions. One particularly striking anecdote highlights how a simple act of kindness towards a fellow officer ultimately played a pivotal role in his selection among over 4000 candidates.

The book vividly portrays the deployment and redeployment process as opportunities for networking and acquiring essential knowledge about the UN, the host country, and the anticipated tasks. In Kosovo, the stark cultural contrasts were immediately apparent to the author, especially in the absence of governing institutions following Serbia's rushed departure. The author proudly highlighted the significance of his role in this transitional phase, leveraging his leadership acumen to contribute to the establishment of the Kosovo National Police, a role immortalized in a photograph alongside the future third president of Kosovo.

Sanchez's narrative is deeply personal, delving into his personal life, emotions, and interactions with others, akin to a candid conversation among law enforcement and peacekeeping peers. In Kosovo, he met his wife and travelled to Haiti against UN rules (rules that strangely do not apply to non-married couples). He admittedly maintained a grudge against his landlord at Gelee Beach in Les Cayes, Haiti. He candidly expresses frustrations with UN bureaucracy, shedding light on instances of cultural incompetence among UNPOL officers, including his own learning curve regarding local customs and practices. No friends or foes are spared.

"Four Years with the United Nations" transcends traditional memoirs, offering invaluable insights for prospective peacekeepers, particularly Americans, preparing for their first deployment. Beyond the stories, the book prompts critical reflection on the role and efficacy of international interventions in fostering sustainable peace and development. It warns against the mentality of “let’s teach them how it is done” that so many peacekeepers bring to UN operations, and which often prevents them from adjusting the to host country’s legal traditions and culture.

There are many lessons for the United Nations and international peacekeeping in this book. The sheer task of deploying uniformed personnel to promote the rule of law, stabilization and protect civilians is quite laudable. However, making it work for the benefits of the host country is quite a challenge. UNPOL, which include UN corrections officers, are recruited from all over the world and sent to work in countries where they know very little and sometimes do not even speak the local language. They are given one year (with possible extensions up to year) to make an impact in national rule of law institutions. By the time, those officers develop an understand of how they can make a difference, their deployment has ended.

In conclusion, "Four Years with the United Nations" stands as a compelling narrative of one man's journey through the complexities of international peacekeeping, offering valuable lessons for both aspiring and seasoned peacekeepers alike. From working with Formed Police Units and the UN military forces to working with the host countries police and elections officials, the book contains many topics to facilitate pre-deployment training. I recommend its reading to facilitate training during pre-deployment, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural nuances, international human rights, and the complexities of UN operations.

Nixon Camilien, PhD