ABSTRACT
This chapter’s objective is to provide a detailed description of the boundary-spanning role of CIMIC soldiers by exploring the role expectations addressed at them. In accordance with the theoretical framework of structural symbolic interactionism, the analysis is performed on two levels: structural expectations as transmitted through documents establishing and regulating NATO CIMIC and interactional expectations as experienced by CIMIC soldiers in their contacts with civilian and military partners. The idealised CIMIC role performance consists of elements typical of the “warrior”, the “peacekeeper”, and, to a lesser extent, the “humanitarian” conceptualisations. It also includes additional values, attitudes, and behavioural patterns which exceed these three conceptualisations. The chapter ends with an overview of the findings and a summary description of the CIMIC role that subsumes both levels of analysis.
