ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses conditions, characteristics, problems, and potential improvements regarding civil-military cooperation during humanitarian operations from an operational point of view. It introduces a theoretical perspective on the conditions and characteristics of inter-organizational cooperation. The chapter also introduces operation Allied Harbour and, from an empirical perspective, tells the story of civil-military cooperative experiences. In June 1999, the author conducted a field study in Albania to investigate civil-military cooperation within its real-life context of NATO operation Allied Harbour. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at the initial stages of a humanitarian operation collaboration with the military is often necessary to receive and accommodate large numbers of refugees. Moreover, the need to increase the scope of the humanitarian activities, the lack of other suitable partners and the lack of humanitarian expertise were mentioned as reasons for the emergence and continuance of civil-military cooperation.
