Track 1 – C2 Concepts, Theory and Policy

In today’s complex security environment integrated operations involving military, civilian and non-governmental agencies are key to success. The challenge is to achieve unity of effort despite cultural differences and competing interests. To overcome these challenges new concepts, such as Civil-Military Cooperation and the Multinational Interagency Group, have been developed to establish connections between military and civilian organisations. While seeking to integrate efforts and build relationships, such concepts have placed emphasis on coordination, with less importance set on explicit mechanisms for achieving cooperation. Operational experience indicates that the level of cooperation achieved can be variable, particularly between the military and Non-Government Organisations. The importance of achieving cohesion requires that a more considered approach be explored. Drawing on the idea of fairness as developed in John Rawls Theory of Justice, this paper introduces the concept of establishing fair principles of cooperation to govern the allocation of responsibilities and shape command arrangements. Augmenting the strategic planning process, the concept incorporates the application of structured bargaining between organisations as a means of establishing fair principles by agreement. By extending game theory approaches to fair social outcomes, consideration will be given to constructing bargaining situations supporting the emergence of fair and robust cooperative arrangements