Forms of Knowledge and Interoperability in EU Peace Operations

Building on a pragmatist framework, this article explores forms of knowledge supporting military interoperability in peace operations conducted by the European Union. While interoperability is essential to the success of missions under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the taxonomy of knowledge that military officers draw upon to develop effective interoperability remains insufficiently explored and theorized in existing literature. Based on primary EU institutional documents, including training and qualification documents, and secondary academic literature, the article examines four forms of knowledge derived from Lundvall’s taxonomy and analyzed across the strategic, operational, and tactical levels: know-what, know-how, know-why, and know-who (Lundvall & Johnson, 1994). It also incorporates comparative insights from previous research on U.S. stabilization operations, highlighting similarities and contrasts with the EU context. By focusing on EU peace operations, the article seeks to advance theoretical understanding and inform practical approaches to interoperability in peacekeeping and stability operations.