Samenvatting

In this paper the authors have adopted the Viable System Model (VSM), (a framework for diagnosing and (re)designing the distribution of complexity in order to ensure the viability of an organisation) to analyse the viability of an interorganisational civil military network in the context of a humanitarian operation. More in particular, they will assess the viability of civil-military collaboration in the case of the operation Allied Harbour (1999), using the VSM as a template. To this end, the remainder of this paper is divided into five sections. In section two, VSM is described, and, more in particular, the five functions required for viability and their interrelatedness. Section three discusses civil-military cooperation processes that took place during operation Allied Harbour between the NATO-military forces and the authorities of the host country, the representatives of UN-aid organisations and NGOs. We will compare the reality of civil-military cooperation to the standards provided by VSM and identify potential problems that may thwart the viability of civil-military networks. In section four we will assess the viability of civil-military cooperation during operation Allied Harbour. Finally, section five presents a summary of the findings of the paper.