Conceptualising humanitarian civil-military partnerships in the Asia-Pacific : (re-)ordering cooperation

Abstract

The Asia-Pacific is a dynamic region that is exposed to multiple natural hazards. This article explores how recent developments have influenced the relationship between civilian and military actors in the Asia-Pacific to facilitate an improvement in humanitarian civil–military coordination to assist and protect disaster-affected communities. It investigates civilian and military engagement in disaster preparedness and response activities in the Asia-Pacific, and draws on the literature on civil–military relations and technical reports to further conceptualise these. This article analyses the 4Cs of disaster partnering in humanitarian civil–military partnerships in the Asia-Pacific—(1) Coexistence/Communication, (2) Cooperation, (3) Coordination, (4) Collaboration [Martin, E., I. Nolte, and E. Vitolo. 2016. “The Four Cs of Disaster Partnering: Communication, Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration.” Disasters 40 (4): 621–643]. It argues that the Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC), UN Cluster System, the Regional Consultative Group on Humanitarian Civil–Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (RCG), and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) centric mechanisms are illustrative of different orders of disaster partnering that are best understood as a combination of distinct and sequential activities. Through a clearer conceptualisation of humanitarian civil–military partnerships in the Asia-Pacific, this article aims to provide more informed expectations on what these partnerships may or may not deliver.