Learning from Afghanistan: Towards a compass for civil-military coordination

Uruzgan Province is widely seen as one of the few areas where positive developments occurred in Afghanistan's south. A major reason for this success is believed to be the comprehensive approach that was adopted to address the complex and multifaceted nature of problems. This article analyses the coordination between the Dutch military and the wide variety of civil actors that took place during the period 2006–2010 in Uruzgan as this was a key element within the comprehensive approach. Making use of inter-organizational network theory, the article identifies and analyses three dimensions of civil–military coordination: interdependence, (in)coherence of logics and conditions for coordination. Based on these dimensions the article develops a strategic compass that guides military forces in establishing and managing their relationships with civil actors.
Keywords: civil–military coordination, Afghanistan, comprehensive approach