ABSTRACT
This chapter continues the analysis of the CIMIC role and diagnoses the elements of role conflict. In doing so, it examines which of the role expectations identified in the previous chapter include contradictory prescriptions regarding the behaviours and attitudes of CIMIC soldiers. The chapter reveals that the role conflict in CIMIC strongly refers to the boundary-spanning character of the CIMIC personnel, as it emphasises their position of a link connecting the military forces and other actors. After discussing three areas of role conflict in CIMIC, the chapter describes the ways in which CIMIC soldiers attempt to navigate conflicting expectations. It discusses the hierarchy of CIMIC reference groups and the techniques used to find a compromise between conflicting role expectations, that is, negotiating a role bargain, playing one reference group off against another, and segregation of audiences and dramatisation of role performance. The chapter ends with a short summary of the findings and an assessment of the severity of the CIMIC role conflict.
