In response to the increased interest in peacekeeping and the 40th anniversary of the first UN peacekeeping operation, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the International Peace Academy (IPA) agreed to co-sponsor a workshop entitled, "The UN and Peacekeeping: Results, Limitations and Prospects: the Lessons of 40 Years of Experience" in Oslo, Norway on 12-14 Dec 1988.;The idea behind the workshop was to bring together a select group of peacekeeping practitioners, diplomats, and academicians with particular interest in this area in order to evaluate the historical experiences of peacekeeping and to critically analyse its present potentials and problems.;The editors brought together a group of professionals, with first-hand experience in areas of peacekeeping. The Chairman was Sir Brian Urquhart, the former Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, who has been associated with peacekeeping from its inception. The list of other participants is included in this publication.;This publication includes the papers presented at the Oslo workshop and the reflections of the Chairman. The workshop participants agreed on the agenda for further research, whic