Organizational Implications of Long-Term Civil-Military Cooperation During Covid-19

A qualitative study

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2976008
AutoresJacobine Janse (0000-0002-4342-0991, Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Jori Pascal Kalkman (0000-0001-7685-019X, Faculty of Military Sciences, Netherlands Defense Academy, Breda, The Netherlands), Adriaan P C C Hopperus Buma (Department of Public Health, Netherlands School of Public and Occupational Health, Utrecht, The Netherlands), Aura Timen (0000-0002-5793-5443, Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Ano2025
Data de publicação2025-09-10
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoArmed Forces & Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0095-327X • E-ISSN: 1556-0848
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0095327x251371053
OpenAlexW4414094031
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas37

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries deployed armed forces to national health care facilities to handle an overwhelming patient flow. In contrast to previous domestic military deployments, the support missions lasted for almost two years in many countries. Most research on civil-military collaboration focuses on short-term partnerships and identifies challenges and opportunities of the common effort. However, little is known about the effects of prolonged civil-military cooperation (CMC) on the involved organizations. We conducted interviews with 34 participants who were involved in CMC during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. The study reveals the existence of organizational interests apart from the common goal of coping with the patient flow, lack of clarity in the military's position as last resort or first responder, and competing organizational priorities causing dilemmas. Clear prioritization of military tasks and transparency in expectations are key to ensuring that prolonged CMC remains beneficial and supported by both partners

Global Security and Public Health · Peacebuilding and International Security · Supply Chain Resilience and Risk Management