ABSTRACT
Given the political and conceptual confusion, it is no wonder that at present there is no clear, formal civil-military interaction, or more specifically Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC), education available in Norway. Greater focus on procedures and processes of cooperation/coexistence ought not to imply an inevitable "take-over" of civilian activity by the military. The military need to normalize mechanisms of contact with civilians, and need to normalize the prioritization of civilian needs, so that their civil-military engagement will be less ad hoc and personality based, and more institutionalized. It is recommended that Norway, as well as other engaged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations, contribute more directly to civil-military doctrinal development, discussions, and training and education. Civil-military interaction has been strongly associated with face-to-face, boots-on-the-ground activities, where military and civilian actors are in close physical proximity with each other and with local populations.
