Soldiers or saints?: Norwegian civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) in Afghanistan

Since the end of the Cold War a more complex civil-military interface has emerged, and with it a variety of doctrines and policies concerning civil-military cooperation and coordination. This study focuses on the NATO concept Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), and the Norwegian CIMIC capability. Norwegian CIMIC aspires to follow the CIMIC doctrine of NATO. Yet, in this study Lene Kristoffersen argues that the Norwegian approach in Afghanistan did not wholly concur with NATO’s doctrine. On these grounds, she questions whether different operational realities require an elastic NATO CIMIC concept? And if so, how can it be combined with the goal of achieving unity of effort and a common understanding of the concept in the operational theatre? How can the thin line between the military and civilian spheres be demarcated? Are NATO CIMIC officers supposed to act like soldiers or saints