The Military Role in Filling the Security Gap After Armed Conflict

Abstract

During stabilization operations, the host nation and the international community are often confronted with a security gap, which could be a prelude to an explosive growth of crime and public disorder. In the absence of a functioning local police, an alternative is that the (international) military temporarily intervenes as interim police. This article analyzes how the Netherlands’ military performed during security gaps in three (post)conflict areas: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Iraq. It concludes that army units frequently were involved in interim policing and de facto operated as hybrid organizations, without leaving the military paradigm behind. Policing is generally not seen as a primary task of the military, however. To adapt to the reality of security gaps and to increase the operational effectiveness in the field of public security, the military would benefit from reflecting on their current military paradigm and on what they could learn from current policing practices.

Dynamic Intersection of Military and Society

“…They used the data to make preliminary observations about the partnerships at the case study location and to theorize about the nature of the "uneasy" partnerships they observed. Neuteboom and Soeters (2017) explored how the Netherlands military personnel performed during periods when the military assumed the police function in three post-conflict areas. This retrospective comparative case study used intensive in-depth interviews and document analysis to trace the process used by the military organizations to deal with the security gap.…”

Decoding Morris Janowitz: Limited War and Pragmatic Doctrine

“…This may require soldiers to depart from their “comfort zones” and concede to ambiguity: “to balance ambiguities, while exploring areas of compromise and agreement... [and] to live with insoluable problems” (Janowitz, 1971, pp. 275-276; Neuteboom & Soeters, 2017, p. 726).…”

“…It might also support critical thinking to help soldiers adapt, seek to build relationships, and work cooperatively with other agencies. Lastly, Joseph Soeters of the Netherlands Defense Academy applies a pragmatist mindset when exploring “peaceweaving”, positive peace, dualisms in conflict environments, and closing security gaps in post-conflict stabilization operations (Neuteboom & Soeters, 2017; Shields & Soeters, 2017).…”

“…War involves protecting populations, holding territory, establishing the rule of law and law enforcement, diplomacy, and infrastructure protection directed by “an overarching political strategy” to “deliver sustainable change” (Boot, 2018; Mansoor, 2013, pp. 272–275; Neuteboom & Soeters, 2017). If a major war breaks out, the American population mobilizes in keeping with democratic principles of self-government and civic duty.…”